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Maps Updated!
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Riders call for safer streets By ALISON LANGLEY Michael Morgenroth has had enough. He's not a competitive cyclist or an environmentalist. He just enjoys riding his bicycle. "It's a great way to wake up in the morning," the Niagara Falls man said. What impedes his pleasure rides, however, are motorists who pay no attention to who's on the road. Late last month, Morgenroth's 14-year-old son was struck by a car and thrown into a ditch while riding his bicycle along Dorchester Road. Luckily, the teenager escaped with only a few scrapes and bruises. What infuriated his father is that the motorist fled the scene and no one stopped to check on the welfare of his son. Then last week, Morgenroth himself had a close call. A bus passed him with "barely enough space to fit a newspaper between my handle bars and the bus," he said. Morgenroth caught up with the driver and told her he has as much right to be on the road as she does. He told the driver she should have given him a wide berth when she drove passed him. The driver told him she is required to stay in the right lane. "Clearly, there is no respect for cyclists as a participant in road traffic on equal footing," he said. A sea change in attitude is long overdue, he said. "While the tip of the iceberg of disrespect is formed by malicious and ignorant drivers who squeeze cyclists to the curb, harass and swear, the mid-section consists of a silent majority that condones the notion that cyclists are putting themselves at undue risk and only disrupt traffic," said Morgenroth. While he admits there are cyclists who engage in "erratic" behaviour on the roads, most obey the rules. Under the Highway Traffic Act, a bicycle is considered a vehicle. That means cyclists must comply with the same rules of conduct as car and truck drivers. Motorists should follow and pass cyclists at a safe distance so they have sufficient room to react safely to hazards such as potholes or loose gravel, said CAA Niagara spokesman John Sherwin. A cyclist needs about one-metre on either side for safety and comfort. "Mutual respect makes it easier for motorists and cyclists to share the road safely," he said. Born in Germany, Morgenroth has always made a point of living close to where he works so he can ride his bike there. An engineer at Hatch Energy, he makes the five-kilometre ride from home every day, all year long. He always wears a helmet and bright-coloured cycling gear or a reflective safety vest. "My best protection is to be visible," he said. Les Potapczyk opts for bright colours before heading out the door. He, too, is familiar with the danger of distracted drivers. On June 13, 2000 he sustained life-threatening injuries after being struck by a tow truck on Townline Road. "I don't remember being hit," he recalls. "All I remember is waking up three days later in a Hamilton hospital and wondering what the hell happened." He suffered numerous injuries, including a torn aorta. The driver of the tow truck said he never saw Potapczyk, who was wearing bright red and yellow clothing. "Careless drivers are the biggest cause of accidents for cyclists," Potapczyk said. "I'm almost dead because someone was careless." An elementary school teacher at the time, Potapczyk was off work for a year as he slowly recovered from his injuries. As soon as he was able, he returned to the bike. "To cycle is to be free. I knew I'd always go back to it." Unfortunately, he also returned to the danger. "I've had trucks come dangerously close to my ear with their rear view mirrors, and I get people yelling at me to get the hell off the road." In many European countries, there are a network of cyclist-only roadways linking cities and towns. In Morgenroth's native Germany, for example, a cyclist can cross the country without ever having to share a road with a car. Potapczyk and Morgenroth would like to see Niagara follow suit. "That's the best case scenario ... keep cyclists away from motorists and everyone is safer," Morgenroth said. There is the Millennium Trail. Morgenroth calls it the "road to nowhere." "It's good for a recreational cyclist on weekends, but it does not help the commuter at all." While there are some dedicated cycling lanes in the city, Potapczyk says there are not enough. And, he said, road conditions in some areas can be "treacherous" to cyclists. "I can take you down roads where your teeth start chattering," he said. If oil prices continue to soar as expected, Potapczyk predicts more people will trade in their gas-guzzlers for the more ecologically friendly two-wheel mode of transportation. For Morgenroth, riding his bike saves him money - but he simply enjoys riding his bike 12 months a year. "Many people think cyclists are a bit odd," he said with smile. Making drivers aware of their road-mates, he said, will "help prevent the extinction of the odd but harmless cyclist species." The annual Ride for Silence - to be held in Niagara Falls May 21 - is designed to heighten awareness of the dangers cyclists face. Similar to a funeral procession, cyclists ride silently to remember those who have been injured or killed on their bikes on city roads. "It's a great opportunity to honour those who have been injured or killed in cycling accidents and to raise awareness regarding cyclists' rights to share the road," said Beth Angle, community development co-ordinator with the the city's parks, recreation and culture department. No fees, T-shirts, pledges or prizes - only silence to honour fallen cyclists. Participants wear black arm bands in memory of those who have been killed and red arm bands for injured riders. The 10-kilometre ride begins at 7 p.m. at Niagara Square, continue on to Montrose Road to Lundy's Lane, then from Drummond Road to McLeod Road and back to the mall. The event began in Texas in 2003 after an endurance cyclist was struck and killed by the mirror of a passing bus. Now the ride is held in cities around the globe. Meanwhile, a recent billboard campaign in New Zealand informed motorists, "He lost his life between 98.1 and 98.8 on the radio dial." It's a reminder to automobile drivers to pay attention to the road. Potapczyk has re-visited the spot where he nearly died. "I literally stop and look around and think, 'How could he not have seen me?'" A contest to get riders rolling The Niagara public health department and the Regional Niagara Bicycling Committee are big advocates of cycling as a mode of transportation. To launch this year's cycling season, the region is hosting a contest of sorts where cyclists of all ages can earn ballots to win prizes. Cycling enthusiasts must pledge to make at least two cycling trips to any location. Both the team "captain" and individual cyclists will receive a prize ballot for each round trip. "Cycling as a mode of transportation is a healthy lifestyle choice, as it not only promotes physical activity but also saves the environment by decreasing gas emissions, decreases the impact on climate change and decreases wear and tear on roadways," said Marian Landry, a health promoter with the region. The top prize will be a dinner for two, overnight stay and breakfast at the Keefer Mansion Inn in Thorold. The first 40 team captains to register a team of 10 cyclists will receive a gift certificate for $20 for Keefer Mansion or the Old Bank Bistro in Fort Erie. Team captain kits can be ordered by phoning 905-688-8248, ext. 7394 or downloaded from www.rnbc.info.
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