Rural bicycle fatalities

Lisa Grace Marr’s recent article in the Hamilton Spectator (July 20) is entitled: “Bicycles provide workers with the freedom to move around. But they also spell danger on rural roadways.”

She goes on to state that 15,000 migrant farm workers come to Ontario each year, and that an estimated 10 to 14 of these workers die every year in roadside accidents while cycling or walking on the side of the road. However, it is difficult to gauge the scope of the problem because these accidents often occur after working hours and are classified as motor vehicle accidents by police. The author reports that some progress is being made to offer workers at least one bus ride weekly into a neighbouring town to make a phone call and pick up groceries, and avoid the use of bicycles and the higher risk that entails.

Well! Can anyone else spot the irony here? …
Ok, so here’s my take on it:

1. Implying that it is the act of bicycle riding that is the problem, and thus tragedy could be averted by driving in a motor vehicle.

What’s wrong with this? Let’s be more specific: the problem could be that the victims were riding in the dark without proper lights and reflectors, it could be that the pavement was rough and dangerous, that the roads were narrow and bordered by steep ditches, that the rider’s bicycle was in poor condition, that the drivers and/or riders were inattentive and not following proper roadway rules, that the motorists were aggressive and/or speeding, or a host of other possibilities.

To avert roadside accidents we need to determine the real cause or fault, and not be so short-sighted as to suggest that the use of bicycles should be avoided. After all, why not ban cars from rural roads? That would certainly reduce fatalities to near zero, cut greenhouse emissions, save gas money … you get the idea.

2. Luring foreign workers to Ontario for work which cannot be performed locally… because the wages are too meagre and the conditions too unsafe/ unsavoury, and then being cheap about letting them have one bus ride per week into the “city” to make a telephone call home.

Oh, that treatment is so distasteful that I don’t want to get into it!

3. I’m going to hazard a guess that many of these workers are too poor to own motor vehicles in their home country; thus, they don’t have much driving experience, and certainly they are not accustomed to sharing the road with perpetually rushed and short-sighted North Americans.

Why don’t we brief them on rules of the road? Why don’t we offer bike maintenance clinics to ensure they are riding on road-worthy and properly-sized equipment, and outfit them with lights and reflectors? Why don’t we keep harping on motorists to share the road with cyclists as required by law? And yes, why don’t we organize a few more bus rides to the necessary amenities? Is this really so hard!?