With increasing population and traffic in Squamish, I am concerned about the number of bicyclists that bicycle on the wrong side of the road.
A cyclist, by law, is to bicycle on the same side of the road as the driver – that is, with the traffic; not against the traffic.
My concern comes from our increasing population and, hence, increasing number of motor vehicles on the road. It is difficult enough for motorists to have to deal with bicyclists on the road, especially busier ones. This means the last thing they also need to deal with is a bicyclist on the wrong side of the road. Additionally, a bicyclist bicycling on the wrong side of the road creates more congestion than necessary on the shoulder or bike lane if two bicycles meet going in opposite directions.
The following is an excerpt from the BC Motor Vehicle Act [RSBC 1996] Chapter 318 Part 3:
“183 (1) In addition to the duties imposed by this section, a person operating a cycle on a highway has the same rights and duties as a driver of a vehicle.
(2) A person operating a cycle
(a) must not ride on a sidewalk unless authorized by a bylaw made under section 124 or unless otherwise directed by a sign,
(c) must, subject to paragraph (a), ride as near as practicable to the right side of the highway,”
I believe this also applies to residential roads, especially busy ones (such as Buckley, Queens, Government and Loggers Lane).
I would like to see the District of Squamish install a few signs on some of these busier roads to inform the public, and a warning from the police would not go amiss either.
