I think we have to be very careful to be sure what it is we are embracing
when we promote paved shoulders for use by cyclists.
What follows is written with respect to normal practice in Ontario. I've
cycled in places where the shoulders are engineered to be continuous - and
they do work. I don't include Quebec in this evaluation - the shoulders
I've seen there are typically discontinuous.
Very few paved shoulders are in fact designed as through traffic lanes.
Frequently at intersections paved shoulders will continue on the far
(right) side of right turn lanes, placing cyclists using those shoulders
in conflict with turning vehicles.
At other intersections the shoulder will disappear completely, its space
having been used for the right turn lane. Sometimes there's a short piece
of sidewalk for a crosswalk - this will often pre-empt the shoulder. Left
turn lanes are often added by shifting the through lanes across onto the
shoulder. There are some older bridges that are not wide enough for shoulders.
None of these issues is particularly important when considering the
shoulder's original function as an emergency space - emergency space is
useful, but not essential, and some of these other uses are potentially
more beneficial use of the space. But if we promote the use of shoulders
without at the same time requiring that they provide a route without
discontinuities, then we are promoting a substandard facility.
The point of this is that most of these discontinuities in the shoulder
occur at intersections, forcing cyclists to merge back into the traffic
flow at the very locations where most accidents occur - at intersections!
The biggest factor that cyclists have control over in maximizing their
safety is their visibility to other road-users. Riding out of the line of
sight, then having to pull back into the traffic lane at intersections, is
the antithesis of safe behaviour. It's extremely rare that a driver who
sees you will hit you, but if he doesn't see you, or only becomes aware of
your presence at the last minute, your chances of being hit climb
considerably.
Although the classic motorist's excuse "I didn't see him" sounds rather
lame, it may be truer than we think - if the cyclist's behaviour indeed
made it difficult for the motorist to see him.
It was interesting to observe the behaviour of many cyclists on the RLCT
this last weekend. There are several stretches of County Road 10 that have
been "upgraded" recently - and this work included paved strips outside the
shoulder line about 500 mm wide. Riders were riding in this narrow space -
and it's very tempting, when driving, to pass such cyclists without
giving full thought to all aspects of the overtaking manoeuvre. This does
not enhance the cyclists' safety. If cyclists are part of the traffic flow
then it is much more likely that they will be included in the motorist's
thought process - and this is an essential component of one's safety.
--
Peter James
Ottawa, Ontario
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