Good points Nikolai. I have also been horribly misquoted in the news. I think positive persuasion is always a good idea. That’s why I really like the idea of letting merchants know they are taking money from cyclists. I really want to figure out a way to do that.

I agree – I love the way they have done the traffic signals on Hornby. I would much rather wait patiently for the cars, than compete with them as they try to turn right while I try to go straight. I cannot understand why anyone finds them confusing – they seem to me to be simple. Cyclists follow the cycle signal if it’s there. Cars follow the regular signal. Pedestrians follow the walk signal. If everyone follows the signals, no one needs to get hurt …

I really like the advance right turn signal for motorists. Drivers are usually an impatient bunch so getting them out of the way first is good.
Also it means that those walking also have a delayed walk signal so the cars turn and get out of the way sooner as well so the bike lane is inadvertently helping motorists get to where they want to go sooner with that too.

I have an opposite approach. I intentionally am shopping at the businesses that had complained while carrying my helmet in with me so they know how I got there. (I normally lock it with the bike.) Instead of “punishing” them for their comments I’m hoping to change their minds.
Besides, they probably got coached and persuaded into saying something against the bike lane by the reporter and the businesses who welcomed it didn’t end up in the piece. (I used to work in news and know how they work and what their motives are. People getting along isn’t news remember.)

I do that too. I have an old beater that was found in the garbage room. I use it when I’m going out at night in areas known for theft so if it’s gone it’s not a big deal.
People in the Netherlands do that apparently. They have their good one for everyday use or when travelling to another city and then their beater for when they go to the train station and are going to leave it locked up for a week while they’re away.

Glad you like this idea, Janine. And you’re right – it could be done pretty cheaply and easily. Go for it at Griffins tomorrow night :)

P.S. I’ll be using Hornby tomorrow, and dining at Griffins so may try this out!

This is a great thought – one interim thing you (we) could do is to put a sticker/label on our credit cards saying “I cycled here” or print out some business card sized pieces of paper that say – “I came to your store on my bike”…it would be easy for BCCC or VACC to come up with a pdf template for people to print and cut…too bad I’m not creative enough to do it!!

The way I understand it is that the bike lane is a “trial” in the sense that if it works well, they will put in more; but if it doesn’t work that well, then we will have to make do with what we have. I certainly hope that is the case. That would make sense, given that the streets obviously can’t accommodate any more cars, but the number of people wanting to travel downtown will inevitably increase.