Some councillors and the mayor's decision to defeat Councillor Russell's proposed bike safety bylaw was very disheartening to me. To cite the possible inconvenience to bikers as a reason to oppose the bylaw was absolutely absurd. As a motorist, red lights and stop signs are inconvenient for me, too. However, I acknowledge their necessity for safety reasons, as well as for courtesy toward those with whom I share the roadways.
It is time that some individuals riding bikes begin to be more proactive in ensuring their own safety. There are those who choose to ride on the sidewalks until they come to a crosswalk and then suddenly they become motorists and ignore the crosswalk signals and speed through the intersection. Councillor Russell's bylaw would prevent this behaviour.
As stated by several councillors, education is an important part for safer use of our highways. However, motorists, bikers, and individuals walking all need clear guidelines to follow. Councillor Russell's proposal would help with this.
If councillors and the mayor could not support Councillor Russell's proposed bylaw as it was present, you could certainly modify it. Instead of the bylaw forcing a biker to disembark at all road crossings, it could enforce walking the bikes at all marked crossings. Such a bylaw would then include all main intersections, school crossings, and bike and walking trail crossings.
As the seven officials sitting on council, you were voted to be there to serve everyone. Often such service will require compromise, a quality that is often sadly lacking. It is my sincere hope that council will revisit this issue and develop a bylaw for bicycle safety that, in conjunction with extensive education, will make our roadways more secure for everyone.
Leona Hodge, St. Albert
