You can’t stay in your lane to safely pass a cyclist

Editor:

It is not possible to safely and legally pass a cyclist, even in a single file, without moving into the opposite lane.

Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act (HTA) clearly states that a minimum of one meter must be kept between motor vehicles and cyclists. Rural roads typically have a lane width (the distance between the yellow line and the end of the pavement) of less 3.5 meters. Fairgrounds Road is closer to 3.2 meters. A pick-up truck is about 2.45 meters wide. To keep the bicycle wheels a safe distance from the unpaved shoulder, the rider will occupy a minimum of one meter of space. A motor vehicle’s side mirror cannot be any closer than one meter from that point, for a total of 2.45 + 1 + 1 = 4.45 meters from the end of the pavement. On Fairgrounds Road, the pick-up truck is sticking out in the opposite lane by a minimum 1.25 meter (over four feet) when legally passing a single bicycle. You can only safely pass a single cyclist by pulling into the opposite lane, which is only possible if you have a clear view of the road ahead. This is not always possible on hilly and curvy roads.

What about cyclists riding side-by-side? It’s not too surprising that cyclists like to ride together and talk. The HTA does not explicitly forbid side-by-side riding but tells cyclists to pull to the right in a single file when being passed. Pulling over quickly is challenging with poor sightlines due to hills and curves when vehicles are moving quickly. There isn’t always time. Pulling over is the right thing to do, and it does not eliminate the need for vehicles to move to the opposite lane when passing.

Slower speeds make roads safer for all by giving all users more time to react.

The presence of cyclists is only one of the factors involved in determining safe speeds, but definitely not the primary one.

Gaetan Tardif,

Creemore.