Because a family member bikes to work I have always considered myself a very careful driver when passing cyclists. Today I found out that driving a vehicle is supposed to make you feel guilty.
Driving south on Laurier today I had to pass a cyclist and made sure I was driving slowly and leaving lots of space for the cyclist. There were cars parked on both sides of Laurier and recently due to construction at the hospital these adjacent streets are filled with parked cars enforcing the need to be careful. As both myself and the cyclist, who was behind me, approached the intersection with 10th Avenue a small truck making a right hand turn off of 10th swung wide as it entered Laurier, again due to parked cars. Realizing that both the truck and myself could not occupy the centre of the street I had to swerve to the right while avoiding a parked car. After I had passed the truck the cyclist came alongside and berated me for cutting her off.
I tried to explain that I had little choice but was treated to a lecture about not taking care.
When traffic decisions have to be made in seconds and we are taught to be defensive drivers, I wanted to ask the cyclist how aware she was of the traffic problem that was going to happen and had she been riding defensively? That moment didn't occur.
From what I read there seems to be a lot of unnecessary anger with confrontations between vehicles and bikes. Unfortunately cars are not nearly as manoeuverable as bikes and given good will on all sides perhaps cyclists need to be extra alert to traffic situations.
I will continue to take all due care when in the company of cyclists and ask that we who drive vehicles be given the same consideration. And I would ask that the city consider solutions to the parking problems created by the present hospital construction. And in support of cyclists I would also point out that cars are now filling up the bike lanes which doesn't seem fair.
Jeannette Paterson
Prince George
