Yesterday afternoon, as I was working on my photographic project documenting urban cyclists of Victoria, I noticed friends from the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition, counting traffic crossing the soon-to-be replaced Johnson Street Bridge (results below).
I joined the bike counters on the grass verge bordering the southeastern exit onto Wharf Street. Another team tallied motor traffic from a position on the north side of the bridge.
I had already noted some dangerous driving, including a young woman “tailgating” a cyclist, inches from his rear wheel, nearly running down the terrified fellow when he slowed.
Then, we witnessed another common infraction: a green SUV, heading east, pulled around a cyclist on the bridge, crossing the double-yellow line to pass. Too bad for him, but to our delight, a police cruiser happened to be travelling west and caught the SUV red-handed.
Prominent signs instruct cyclists to take the lane, while motorists are prohibited from passing.
Too often, timid cyclists hesitate to take advantage of their rights, which encourages impatient drivers to squeeze by. In this case, the police were there to enforce the law. Unfortunately, on any given day, many others endanger cyclists without detection.
Motorists tempted to flaunt the law should consider that police officers also commute by bike, that cycling advocates monitor traffic, equipped with cameras, and that many Victoria cyclists are following the lead of their counterparts in the UK, where video from lightweight bike-cams is often used as evidence.
In other news, readers may have noticed a gap in my usual posting routine. A break was in order due to other obligations and health issues, including the downside to living in the “City of Blossoms”: allergies. Add flu to the mix and the picture was not as pretty as the colourful blooms of spring.
Nevertheless, I have made some background progress on multiple fronts that will launch in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.
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Bicycles
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Pedestrians
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Motor vehicles
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Date
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777
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624
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3981
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5/10/2012
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710
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637
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3926
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5/12/2011
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795
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5/12/2010
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||
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632
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730
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5/9/2006
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Latest Tweets
Maybe the SUV driver used the standard defence, that I have heard many times myself, “I never saw you!”
I have to agree with Conner, heard the same. My response: “First you have to look for me”
How would the SUV pass a cyclist without seeing it? Do you often pass vehicles you can’t see?
Now, the argument that he didn’t see the cop car, that I get. It’s only wrong if you get caught, that sort of thing.
Love the discussion on twitter with VPD! Nice to see them responding to cyclists, and that whoever is tweeting for that account is also a cyclist. : )
Yes, VicPD is doing a good job. It helps that some officers are dedicated cyclists. On the bridge there is no excuse at all for passing; it’s clearly signed, if common sense isn’t enough.
What many people do not realize is that the bridge and approaches are a 30 kph zone…even though this is well-signed. Most drivers are speeding; doing between 40 and 70 kph. I would love to see more enforcement of the speed limit through here.
Agree, Susanna; speeding/impatience is at the root of all the issues on the bridge and every other public roadway.
This reminds me of the time I was heading to a park which is located atop of the Niagara Escarpment (hell of a climb up).
I’m walking my bike up, another bike is coming down (road of course) when a large van/truck passes him.
This Streetview will give you an idea of what the road looks like.
A the top there is a sign that clearly states “Do Not Pass Bicycles”.
For the most part people here are good at not passing in certain circumstances.
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