David Jackson had several close calls and one minor run-in with a vehicle while on his bike this summer.
According to his research, he’s not the only one.
The Bedford resident has spent the last few weeks surveying the busiest bike routes in his community and speaking to pedestrians, fellow cyclists, and motorists. He’s also encouraging people to sign a petition calling for cycling-related improvements in Bedford.
“I’ve had a few close calls over the past four years cycling in Bedford, but over the past summer I’ve had more close calls than usual,” Jackson said. “I actually had one accident in front of the Chickenburger. A lady behind me in a car floored it and tried to make a right turn in front of me when I was in the ramp and I hit the back bumper of her car.”
The motorist didn’t stop, and Jackson was shaken up but otherwise uninjured. But he has spoken to local cyclists who’ve had more serious accidents. Stories of broken shoulders, arms, legs and ankles were all shared with him by fellow cyclists. One woman told him she’s actually moving away from Bedford to Montreal because she enjoys biking to work and finds it almost impossible.
Although there are bike lanes on parts of the Bedford Highway, Jackson said many cyclists find it inadequate.
Jackson has spent many hours and days surveying 12 different roadways in his community.
“Only one location had no cyclists at all in one hour, and that was on the Hammonds Plains Road at the RIM entrance,” he said.
“There are bike lanes there, but they don’t go anywhere.”
He estimates about 300 to 500 cyclists regularly travel in and around Bedford. He spent hours surveying the Bedford Highway-Hammonds Plains intersection in the early evening and has counted about 21 cyclists an hour on average.
In addition to keeping track of cyclist and vehicle behaviour, he’s been speaking with passersby. He identified several areas that seem most dangerous for cyclists.
Where the Bedford Highway meets Hammonds Plains Road, Jackson watched cars go in and out of the bike lane as though it didn’t exist. He said he has yet to see any enforcement.
The Bedford Highway-Glenmont section has frequent left-turn problems, and the bike lanes around Clearwater aren’t painted through the parking lot. He said the Chickenburger and Dartmouth Road intersection is also quite dangerous and is the site of many near misses.
“I’d like the six major roads in Bedford to have bike lanes all the way through, not stopping anywhere, and to have off road routes connecting to each other,” he said. “People are also telling me they’d like to see a trail going along the water from Halifax into the waterfront area in Bedford to the Bedford-Sackville connector.”
He also thinks “share the road” signs could be helpful.
To sign the petition, visit Sportswheels on Sackville Drive or Bicycles Plus on the Bedford Highway by the end of this weekend. Jackson can also be reached at dmajackson@hotmail.com.
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca
