Cyclist’s death reminder of need for more room to share roads

LETTER — It has been just over a year since the tragic death of local cyclist Richard McGillivray, and many in the cycling community and otherwise have patiently waited for some sort of final assessment/ charges/ understanding of what happened out near Rodeo Road just past Cherry Creek.

We continue to ride past the location and think of what may have precipitated the collision between vehicle and bicycle and their respective operators. We also pause and pay respects at a memorial which is worth seeing ( photo enclosed).

A number of months ago I wrote to Transportation Minister Stone’s office about the need for more adequate shoulder space for cyclists and was told that the issue would be passed on to someone who would presumably respond, but never did.

Many months later as we approach the Savona lookout hill on a ride towards Cache Creek it is noticeable that new pavement looms darkly in the distance, this can be a happy sight for a road cyclist although in this case the traffic lanes are nicely refinished but the shoulder remains the same and in fact is more covered with gravel as a result. This seems to be almost disrespectful of the loss of a cyclist who, not far away was travelling in an area with virtually no shoulder for safety.

Is it too much to ask that even a three-ft. shoulder might be added? There is for no apparent reason a luxurious and roomy 12-ft. shoulder that is present in the Tobiano area, and I’m not sure why that was deemed necessary. During the beautiful Cache Creek/ return ride we saw several touring cyclists obviously in mid journey, one from Japan, who were loaded down and trying to navigate the narrow and unswept shoulders as they headed to Kamloops and points east.

It would appear that one more feather in our tourist destination cap, would be as a cycle touring friendly province and we will not get that designation as long as the bare minimum needs of the two wheelers are not met.

During a meeting with a road maintenance person a few years ago, I was advised that road shoulders are expensive and in the case of the Old Merrit highway, they would be added when possible (this has never happened and it remains one of the most beautiful and dangerous rides around).

I was also told that he (the maintenance person) could not understand why we (the cyclists) would want to ride on a highway to begin with. This is always a challenge to explain as are many passions and activities that are not familiar to another, and I was probably not able to fully convey what attracts us to spin our bike tires over hill and dale. I hope that someday he will understand.

We continue to ride, and to hope for improved life- saving changes that would see proper shoulders included with new roads, added to resurfaced ones and maintained to a safe level. When we ride our bicycles, we ride to enjoy the journey, and recognize that vehicles are much more powerful and potentially dangerous than we are.

Please recognize that we do not ride to create annoyance to a motorist and we hope that taking a few seconds to wait until it is clear to drive past us will not be a huge inconvenience. We also promise not to use electronic devices while we ride and hope all motorists will do the same especially while pushing the limits of the new speed maximums. See you on the roads.

PATRICK C. McDONALD

EDITOR’S NOTE — The Armchair Mayors welcomes letters to the editor, which may be sent to armchairmayor@gmail.com.