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Should Ontario cyclists be allowed to cross on walk signals?
Yes. It's safer, and that should be the main consideration.
Also, allow Idaho Stops, since it's also another step towards safety for cyclists.
There are so many things the province can do to make sure we get close to our vision zero goals, yet we are still criminalizing cyclists wanting to be safe!
Not only are these things safe, but they're also key to the efficiency of cycling. Cycling would replace driving if it were more attractive and efficient, but that won't be the case if cyclists have to act like they're driving cars.
Despite knowing this province's rules, Toronto cycling advocate Alison Stewart says she regularly crosses early with the pedestrian signals.
"It's much safer. It keeps me in front of car traffic, and gives me the chance to be seen as I cross," said Stewart, director of advocacy and public policy for Cycle Toronto.
As a cyclist myself, I do agree with this. However, the article also mentioned the scramble intersection at Yonge and Dundas, and in that circumstance, I feel that cyclists should dismount and walk along with the other pedestrians. I feel that way because there are those crossing diagonally, and cyclists weaving in and out between walking pedestrians simply is not good. But, generally, if it's just a regular crossing (and not a scramble) then yes, cyclists should be able to go early along with the pedestrians.
The default rule should be to allow it. We already have some intersections that are signed to "dismount to cross" -and that signage could be used for intersections like this.
cyclists weaving in and out between walking pedestrians simply is not good
Why? It seems to work pretty well in the Netherlands. Especially at intersections where everyone is going pretty slow anyway.
The criticism I often hear for this is from drivers. My question is always “Would it be better for you if I got off and walked and you had to wait 2-3x as long for me to cross?”
Si tu traverse pas vite (vitesse piéton environ) et que tu es vigilant pourquoi pas?
I'll add a minor point: with the rising bicycle use in Québec we're seeing a new issue pop up, where a good few cyclists mistakenly treat walk signs as green lights, endangering pedestrians (and other cyclists) with the speed at which they enter the crossing, or wrongly expecting pedestrians to yield to a bicycle instead of the other way around.
Toronto need to make sure the TPS is trained in up to date cyclist & pedestrian safety for this to work. In the last two years I've had the pleasure of seeing SPVQ officers reminding cyclists to yield to pedestrians when they signal crossings, and it makes a noticeable difference over time.
I don't personally do this (don't have the spare cash for a ticket tbh) but it seems like just about every other cyclist already does this. People do it for a reason. Just update the laws to match reality.