Bicycle issues in Winnipeg

grumpy old man wrote:
No matter how careful you might be pedestrians will always come in second best versus a bike.

holly golightly wrote:

grumpy old man wrote:
No matter how careful you might be pedestrians will always come in second best versus a bike.

And cyclists will always come in second best to any vehicle out there.
And that is the biggest reason I take my own personal safety into my own hands when I know that riding on the road is unsafe because of road conditions or narrow roadways.

Shotgun-wielding cyclist sought by Winnipeg police
Last Updated: Thursday, April 30, 2009 | 11:53 AM CT

CBC News

Winnipeg police are asking for the public's help to find a man who pointed a shotgun at officers earlier this week and then eluded them on a bicycle.

The incident happened about 10 p.m. Tuesday in the city's north end, when patrolling officers noticed a man riding a bicycle in the area of McGregor Street and Selkirk Avenue while holding the gun.

The officers made a U-turn and stopped, at which time the man threw down his bicycle and pointed the weapon directly at them while also yelling at them, the police service said in a news release issued Thursday.

The officers exited their cruiser car and used it to take cover as they demanded the man drop the gun. The man then got back on the bicycle and rode a few blocks to the area of McGregor Street and Flora Avenue, the news release said.

The officers drove after the man who pointed the firearm and yelled once again. While the officers took cover for the second time, the man fled east on Flora Avenue.

Police were not able to locate him again.

The suspect is described as being aboriginal in appearance, about 20 years old, 5-foot-9 with a slim build. He was clean-shaven and wearing a black baseball cap with a white insignia on the front, a black hoodie and black pants.

The bike was red with white lettering and front shocks.

HurtinAlbertan wrote:my apologies for being a little late to chime in on this subject. In regards to the debate about riding on the sidewalk. I actually think it may be safer to ride on the road, on the far right side. The problem with riding on sidewalks, especially when you are on the sidewalk of a major road, is all the sidestreets the intersect your commute.

I find almost half the cars will ignore the stop sign, and drive right to the intersection, which completely blocks the cyclist from passing. I'm actually more worried aboout getting sideswiped by one of these drivers than I am cycling on some route like Portage or Notre Dame. Legal or not, I stick to the road...

grumpy old man wrote:So basically stop before the sidewalk.

JT Estoban wrote:You are supposed to stop BEFORE the sidewalk....doing so prevents injuries to children running, riding bikes or rollerskating on the sidewalks. (And me when I ride on the sidewalk down Higgins)

While it's been more than a decade since my drivers test, I distinctly remember that one one sneaky place they would dock you marks. You always stop before the sidewalk, then proceed to the stop sign.

" If there is no stop line or marked
crosswalk at the intersection, stop before the sidewalk, out of the way
of pedestrians"

Airt Mattrèssor wrote:Personally, I thought the diamond lanes were an ill-advised
half-measure. Imagine, buses and bicycles sharing a dedicated
lane...