| Bicyelii

AS always, ’'m more than happy to pass on - Nitrle information as provided by Ptupte and groups of people who say nice things about me.

In areeent letter, the people trom the Society Promoting Environmentai Conservation (SPEC, sounds like a James Bond villain, doesn’t it?) asked me to endorse their latest cam- paign to make the streets safer for cyclist. No prob- jem.

Cycling, as we all know, has got to be one of the most environmentally triendly modes of transport (though some tree-huggers: think them a danger to the forest jloor, but let's not go there).

It is also true that evelists taking to the streets here in

“The good

signals

opening the door anv rur- ther. While vou're at it, check for large Mack Trucks and similar door-crashing vehicles. Phe good ol" fast- ion shoulder check is a great habit to get into. Kind of a “look lots and lots before you leap” approach.

In essence, the SPEC people are cuphemizing one of my favorite slogans, “Don't Be a Bonehead.”

Furthermore, knowing well that some people are dumb but are allowed to drive anyway, SPEC has

e Mews

Friday, February 20, 1998 - North Shore News - 37

NEWS phote Cindy Goodman

THE Society Promoting Environmental Conservation has produced a pamphiet outlining how drivers can be more aware of cyclists on the road. Accidents like this (above), writes Shaun Conlin, are becoming all too

common here in “Bonehead City.”

Bonchead City “dumbed down”

do soatconsid- Ol? fashioned the mighty erable risk to Motor Vehicle

themselves, Whar with the large number of hapless drivers out there, it’s a wonder those pedal-powered- people go out at all.

Specitically, the peaple of SPEC “are concerned about the number of bicvelists who are getting knocked off their bieveles by drivers who open their doors without looking.” A noble concern.

SPEC’s pamphlet mini bliez of government min- istries, the BCAA, back page auro columtnists and driving schools endorses a simple procedhre for every driver of a motor vehicle exiting their car street side.

To wit

1. Look in the mirror. A simple look-before-you-leap philosophy.

2. Use the door handle but open the door no more than one inch, While this second step implics that there is some other secret method for opening doors, it correctly states that we can signal to others — espe- cially approaching cyclists --- that this-here car door will be wide open in the near future. And vou thought the blinkers and horn were the only signals on your car.

3. Turn and look speciti- cally for hicvelists: before

“shoulder check is a great habit to

get into.”

Act which has this to sav an the matter: “A per- son shall not open the door of a motor vehicle on the side avail- able te moving traffic unless and aunnl it is reasonably safc to do so...” See? We're obligat- ed to pay attention.

Now, if P really sunk my teeth into this one Pd start pratding on about how evelists, in the interests of safety, actually contravene several sections of the mighty MVA. Bur Ui save that for another day lest vou think Pm anti-pedalpow er.

In the meantime, Vd ike to remind drivers of the all encompassing, Section 149 of the mighty ATVA that is supposed to stop all of us, motorist and evelists alike, trom driving around like complete idiots.

It reads: “(1) A person shall not drive a motor vehi- cle on a highway (read: roadway) (a) without due care and attention; (hb) with- out reasonable consideration for other persons using the (roadway).”

Avery clear and concise law in the place of good old-fashioned common sense and courtesy.

Yo dumb it down would be to say: “Be nice. Don'r be a bonehead. Be sate.”

AYLORMOTIVE COLLISION SPECIALISTS

B.CA.A. - A.R.A. APPROVED CENTRE

‘&._shop

ALL MAKE COLLISION REPAIRS “LIFETIME GUARANTEE”

Alternative transportation arranged ix Estimates * TALKING

Consultation

YELLOW PAGES (4299-9000

Chilkoot SN

998 Nissan Maxima GXE..

Brealey shee ot Caen tal Sales Manager

$359 mo. or $33,240

© init on the fly four wheel drive

* ani then wstem

ORC tre aur condiernag

© powed windewe. flocks and heated ator

© OO spht rear told seat

© hented shp differential

@ ther Ode step rails

© tees dthts

fo deca] Conniptes

sat Sy):

* automatic climate contrel

sth spesher CD stem sil AM TM Hassctte

* heated front sat.

© Power Ceo:

© crue control

© ovated mirrors

$269 imo.

oe! stare 0 honvpeser sng

* four speaker AMM cassety sister © dual sirbags

© power mirrors, locks aid widows © CEC free ane condones,

¢ dual cupholders

awh Menry

° ° . Peaw Consular Sales andl Lea Conuliant

© odtade temperature dasplas

© conf cach

eprdertodk meunted tull sive spare ure esis speaker CD ssiem with AMEN

© 5 sper irstienmisacn © dual archags © and inuch more

or $29,795

+ Ketless remote ent,

© Pinch whevis

© V6 190 hosepower engine * automatic IsuImisston

© power trunk release

© Sway poner divers scat | Ssecnin water

or $22,498

© crusse conizol

© illuminated ety

© O0/ el spin fold dawn rear seat

of speed automanc traitsmiiysion

= avterinitiont wipers and much arore

985-7455 Mi7iaisis..

Pci mate Uaemted bon, pies 10 1998 Masard CLE COO), 1998 Paewder Cais de (AAGOT TOG Mand OF O06): £1 ease nace sh Detar Comm sncrent ob €oun alert ade of $2 B11 £ ectea Dealers are hye to set midetua peices. Sie Drale! Rs de

Ran vl a vera TASHA TELS, tuk abl ee, SU4, E15 STE SES 69, 3696-21 wont Team, Lea pes art Brad” ended, nd ncade Tree and PDL