While the finishing touches are put on the vintage CCM, we welcome bike stories from readers. To date we have received three. Nancy Gwin wrote about bike envy and ecstasy as a kid in New Toronto. Dwayne Stevenson shared a bike story of beauty and brutality from his home town of Saskatoon. Now Jane Connor steps forward with some analysis and tips for navigating bike paths, based on her experience as a cycle commuter in Toronto.

By Jane Connor

There has been much talk and media coverage about the relationship between bicycles and cars or, more precisely, the relationship between cyclists and drivers. The angst that exists between these two groups of travelers is generated by a desire to get somewhere as efficiently as possible using the same route. Meanwhile, the person using the other form of transportation appears to obstruct the realization of the goal of the other traveler. This root cause is not unique to the relationship between cyclists and drivers. Interestingly, once the cyclist moves off the roadway and onto a bike path, the angst is quickly re-directed toward other occupants and travelers on this type of route.

To underline the point, the following list is the top ten hazards facing a cyclist traveling by bike paths:

10. The unexplained ball that rolls, unexpectedly across the path. It will force a swerve either off the trail or into oncoming traffic. In the former case, the cyclist may quickly become a botanist and in the latter, a linguist.

9. The photographers and videographers of wedding parties and community college media courses who determine that the middle of the path is where the perfect shot and the perfect light for the shot may be found. Inexplicably, they always find the most acute bend in the path and set up just on the blind side of the curve. Again, the cyclist will become either a botanist or a linguist.

8. The clumps of Sunday walkers that actually materialize on any day of the week and appear to have no set common direction but believe in ‘safety in numbers’ as they manage to occupy the entire width of the path. Here, the cyclist attempts to play a game of “Operation” as the most delicate route through the clump is navigated so that no contact is made.

7. The small unattended children that appear to prefer running in unpredictable, unstable and indecisive lines on the cold, hard trail instead of the soft, warm grass. The cyclist has to slow down and make no sudden movements that may contribute to the child’s decision making in order to pass safely.

6. The slightly older children who have recently mastered the two wheel bike, but use the trail to gain wobbly confidence. Again, no sudden movements are required for safe passage.

5. The roller bladders, oh, the roller bladders. There are those that are just learning. They can’t turn and can’t stop and can’t control their direction. There are those that apparently can only blade if they charge down the middle of the path; forcing all other travellers off to the sides, either in their wake or in anticipation of their impending whoosh. Here, the cyclist may select from botanist, linguist or no sudden movements!

4. The upright, self-righteous, occasional cyclist who believes the bell is a musical instrument and a helmet is an accessory to make them look environmentally conscious. So infrequent is their journey onto the pathways that they have no cycling etiquette what-so-ever. No sudden movement is the recommended approach.

3. The lovers. Yes, they do venture out! It’s not enough to simply walk hand-in-hand to take up as much of the path as possible. These “only-have-eyes-for-you” missing links have to hold hands whilst blading, jogging and even cycling. Circumnavigating them is near impossible. Eventually, the “sweet-talk” threatens to permanently wound the psyche and shear revulsion spurs on the cyclist on to pass.

2. The dog-walkers with the “extend-a-leash”. This is deadly for a cyclist. Up ahead is a dog-walker, a leash in one hand and a plastic bag in the other. The cyclist has assessed the situation and has positioned themselves to pass safely. Suddenly, the dog spies a cat, a bird, or a really good stick and shoots off across the path. A trip wire is instantly formed between the dog-walker and the dog. A screech of tires, some colourful blue language – a linguist solution – and the dog-walker has the audacity to look indignant about it all.

And the number one hazard for cyclists navigating bike paths is…. (drum roll, please)…

1. The Canada Geese. This is generally an early morning phenomenon. They appear to be quite organized, streperous and cunning. They actually gather in large groups on one side of the path and watch for an unwitting cyclist whirring along, head down. At precisely the right moment the first goose steps onto the path, followed by another and another and another. They actually cross the path single file, hissing and honking as they go. The cyclist pulls up fast and waits for a big enough gap to squeeze through whilst pondering whether the geese have actually been talking with the chickens.

Conclusion:

The hazards of the bike path demonstrate that different forms of transport sharing the same route contribute to angst between travelers. Drivers and cyclists on city roads are but one example.

The root cause of this angst, regardless of transportation method, is the ego-centrism of human beings. It is due to perception. It is how the rest of the world looks from the perspective of the “wronged”. Transportation angst will never be resolved. It will always exist. It is the fundamental right of the individual traveling from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ to perceive and to be aggrieved. In most cases they live to tell the tale.