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Sharing the road applies to everyone using it

Bicycles need to understand courtesy too

As August continues to unfold, motorists of the South Okanagan  and Similkameen are encountering an increasing number of cyclists on the highways.

It’s an annual event - as Ironman approaches, training intensifies for many of the contestants. It usually means an increasing number of cyclists using Highways 97, 3, and 3A as they train on the actual bike portion of the contest.

Unfortunately, it also means an increase in bad behaviour on the part of some of the cyclists.

More often than not, the “Share the Road” campaign that intensifies each year around this time focusses on motorist behaviour - and sometimes we forget that unacceptable behaviours happen with both groups of road users.

Throughout the summer, discarded energy bar wrappers, gel foils, water bottles, and tire tubes line highway ditches, increasing as the triathlon approaches. Tandem cyclists, conversing while they train, force vehicles to veer into oncoming lanes, when there would be more than enough room (with a safety margin) on the highway were the cyclists to be travelling single file.

Some of these competitors demonstrate an arrogance to these concerns, as if it was their right to behave this way.

We understand the need to compete - but let’s be realistic here. If you brought it with you, then it should go home with you. Cycling competitively does not give one license to litter.

With respect to the other issue - one might think that one has the right - on a slower moving pedal bike - to occupy an inordinate amount of space on the highway for no good reason, but as many cyclists find out - often the hard way - having the right has very little to do with a possible negative outcome.

Sharing the road is every user’s responsibility.