This was posted on Rudy Hollywood's email list. Rudy is the grandfather of local triathlon. Ignore the bad spelling. He is well know for that. Following that is a well written reply by a member of the Almonte Bicycle Club.
>From the Frontenac Gazette: by Ian Reid If last week's meeting was any indication, South Frontenac council is not welcome to the idea of Perth Road being used as part of a provincial cycling route. The municipality received a form letter last month from the Ontario Cycling Association asking for comments on an initiative called the Provincial Cycling Route Network. According to the letter, the bicycle route is a "vision to implement an on road cycling network across Ontario that would connect all regions, many municipalities and key points of interest." The local branch of the network would join Kingston to Perth. Several councilors around the table last week in Bedford expressed concern about the possibility of one township's main thoroughfares being used on a regular basis by two-wheeled travelers. In a memo to representatives, township clerk-administrator Gary Stefan assured council the municipality would not be held responsible for any injuries resulting from bicuclists using Perth Road. "While there has been legitimate concern expressed about the potential for injury resulting from poor driving habits on either the part cyclist or the operators of automobiles, the municipality would not be liable if its roads are adequately maintained," he said. Coun. Jack Barr noted that an annual race between Kingston and Ottawa clogs Perth Road, causing traffic problems during a May weekend along a road heavily used by people traveling to launch their boats. "Yes, there's benefits, but there's a lot more negatives," he said of adding the road to the Provincial Cycling Route Network. "The Ottawa-Kingston race is a disgrace every May...[the bicyclists] take over Perth Road." Barr added that the potential of having large-scale events on a regular basic would not have a positive impact on the township economically be cause visitors will likely avoid the related traffic problems. Other councilors said safety concerns top their list of reasons to say no to the proposed bike trail. Coun. Bill Lake has raised objection on a number of occasions about the annual race that already takes place on Perth Road, saying bicyclist stake up half of the road and force motorists to make unsafe passes. "Someone's going to get killed along there," he said. "It's just a matter of time," Not all comments about the proposed network were negative, however. Coun. David Hahn said becoming part of something like this would be an ideal way for South Frontence to attract tourists and promote healthy lifestyles. "I think it's reasonable thing to do," he said of the proposal. "This is, after all, a new age of tourism." With a number of question still hanging in the air, council decided to write a letter to the Ontario Cycling Association asking for more information regarding safety, financing and any work that would need to be done to Perth Road before making a final decision. In spite of the normal cyclist vs car driver rhetoric in the article, I wonder if OBC has an education problem on its hands?? That the Rideau Lakes Tour is being perceived and described as a 'race' poses a problem as litigation can and does change when 'competition' is either stated or implied by the sponsoring organization. The few times I have ridden the Tour I have been mostly impressed by the riders giving room to cars on roads that, legally, we are permitted to use. The OPP, both in cars and on motorcycles were always in evidence and I never saw them stopped talking to either a bike rider or a car driver - maybe I just missed the occurrences that happen when "bicyclist's take up half of the road and force motorists to make unsafe passes." Presumably those drivers are the ones to be watched?? Also OBC has changed the route over the years to accomodate "the locals" who complained that they can't do 100kph between Perth and Westport to get to their cottage so they can 'relax and enjoy the slow cottage life pace'! Do I have a bias - no, not me! Thanks for the update Dennis FitzGerald ------ To unsubscribe, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Club Office: [EMAIL PROTECTED], (613) 230-1064 Web/mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cyberus.ca/~obcweb Newsletter: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cyberus.ca/~obcweb/Newsletter ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aVxiDo.a2i8p1 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
