The Editor,
A plea to Tri-City drivers from a scared cyclist:
I am appealing to Tri-City drivers to please be more cautious around cyclists. I'm fully aware of the rage drivers have towards cyclists recently but it's getting out of control.
I commute from Coquitlam to downtown Vancouver and back every day and find going through Port Moody and Coquitlam the scariest part.
I have all the lights and safety gear and follow the rules of the road. Please understand, I am not trying to bug you or slow you down but have no choice at times - there is either no bike lane, potholes or debris on the right. Believe me, if I could not ride near cars, I would.
On the Barnet Highway, you drive 90 km/h or more mere inches from me and along Clarke and Murray streets, there are no lanes and I am always intimidated by drivers ensuring I know they are the boss.
I agree, the car will always win - I have no protection.
But can you please give me some space as you pass? I may hit a pothole or rock or the wind can blow me a few inches to the left and you haven't given me any space. Your mirror sticks out a bit and could easily clip me.
I just want to get home safely to my family, as you do yours, and don't want a battle with you or be put in a wheelchair or even worse, killed, just because you didn't give me enough space or you have this rage towards cyclists.
Please don't lump us all together. There are bad cyclists, pedestrians and drivers everywhere. When I drive, I don't go out of my way to intimidate others just because I'm protected by four panels of steel.
It's so easy to wipe out a cyclist but think of me as someone with a family and kids. Thank you and my family thanks you.
Stewart Wright, Coquitlam
