Fredericton's Problem Intersections

     Some of the major problems concerning cyclists and pedestrians in Fredericton, is the lack of common sense, failure to yield or even courtesy. Granted, issues are at fault of some cyclists and pedestrians. Who walks at night dressed entirely in black or cycles without lights? Whatever happened to looking both ways before you cross the road? In the map below, I have noted some problem intersections, mostly from personal experience, but also stories from others where they have experienced conflicts. Feel free to explore the map and click the bicycle icons, where I explain my reasoning.

     You know your society is becoming car-centric when it starts installing signs such as the "Pedestrian Accident Area" posted to the left. Why build a society around cars, when you can build one around pedestrians, bicycles and even public transportation?! Incidents between cars, bicycles and pedestrians can be dramatically reduced by implementing traffic calming measures such as pedestrian islands, flashing lights. Even setting speed limits to 30km/h in residential neighbourhoods can be life savers! No, not the delicious candy, that thing that keeps you from knocking at the golden gates... or well, you know.

Flashing yellow lights installed in the ground attract the drivers
attention where it belongs.

Pedestrian island help pedestrians to concentrate on one
direction at a time while crossing.

Cycling at Night

     A few months ago, you may recall two different accidents where a vehicle hit a cyclist. The first one occurred on Waggoners Lane, and the other on Brookside Drive. From what I recall, both cyclists had lights and both drivers were not paying attention. I, myself, have had many close encounters at night, all of which include drivers speeding up behind me, honking, swearing at me, then speeding off. Ahh, the ideal date night.
     The majority of bicycle-car related accidents are due to the drivers not paying attention, the cyclist riding erratically, or visibility of the cyclist. I have encountered cyclists riding at night with no lights, reflective jacket or even reflectors. In order to legally ride a bicycle (yes, legally), you need reflectors. Why don't those kinds of cyclists get hit? Yes, Fredericton cyclists need to smarten up, but drivers also need to open their eyes a little, especially at dusk! Check out this cool video:

It's Not Easy Being Green

Re: Cycling in Fredericton

Upon reading about the trial of an individual accused of leaving the scene of an accident involving a cyclist, I felt compelled to share with your readers my own recent cycling experience in Fredericton.

On Friday evening, Oct. 21, I was on my mountain bike waiting to cross Smythe Street at Saunders Street, going east.

While waiting for a break in traffic, several cars in the left turning lane to Saunders Street from Smythe Street had stopped to let me cross.

Eventually the outside lane on Smythe Street going north had a break in traffic and a motorist going west on Smythe Street had stopped, thus allowing me to cross.

Unfortunately by this time a motorist held up by the illegal yielding of the other motorists hurled a profanity in my direction - for the most part blaming me for holding up traffic.

I didn't see who the motorist was yelling at me as I crossed Smythe Street, but I soon found out who it was. As I continued east on the next section of Saunders Street, a large white GMC pick-up truck came roaring up behind me. The guy driving this truck went ahead of me and turned right on Northumberland Street.

By time I got to the next intersection of Saunders and Westmorland Streets the large white GMC pick-up appeared again. This time he turned left and came as close to me as possible and proceeded to spit on me.

Essentially he drove all the way around the block to get a better shot at me.

If anything can be learned from this incident, it's that motorists shouldn't yield for cyclists unnecessarily - let us follow the traffic rules just as you should.

One more fact: this all happened within a few hundred metres of the spot where the lady in the wheelchair was killed crossing the street just a few weeks ago.

Rob Scullion

Fredericton

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/search/article/1453280

Cyclists Aren't Expected on the Road After September?

A Fredericton man thought he'd killed a cyclist he struck on a dark, wet night last fall, and that's why he left the scene, a prosecutor argued in court Tuesday.

Jonathan Kelly Stockall, 29, of 1690 Woodstock Rd. struck and injured a cyclist the night of Oct. 21, 2010, with his pickup truck.

He didn't stick around after the collision and was charged with leaving the scene of an accident under the provincial Motor Vehicle Act.

Evidence in the case was heard last week, and Stockall and Crown prosecutor Robert Murray were back in court Tuesday to deliver their closing arguments.

During his testimony last week and a police interview the day after the accident, Stockall said he thought he'd struck a deer, not a person.

His truck sustained some damage to the grill and passenger-side signal light, and the passenger-side mirror broke off as a result of the impact.

Murray argued Tuesday that Stockall's story doesn't add up.

"The accused had to know he hit a cyclist," he said, noting the bike had reflectors and there was a taillight.

A motorist who was on the scene at the time of the accident testified he thought he cyclist - who lay motionless in the intersection of St. Mary's Street and Brookside Drive - was dead. He was unconscious.

Stockall testified he slowed down after the impact and saw nothing in his rearview mirror.

Murray argued Stockall saw what the witness saw: a motionless figure he assumed was a dead body, and that's why he took off.

The prosecutor said Stockall only turned himself into police the next day after others noticed the damage to his car and when a friend mentioned there had been a hit-and-run accident in which a cyclist was injured.

Murray said Stockall knew it would only be a matter of time before the police came knocking on his door.

In his argument, Stockall reiterated he thought he'd struck a deer.

He said the cyclist's clothes could have covered the reflectors.

He said given the wet weather and the time of year, it never occurred to him a cyclist would be on the road at the time.

"I have nothing to hide. I've never been in trouble with the law," he said.

He didn't stop to provide assistance or information because he didn't think there had been an accident, he said.

Judge Julian Dickson reserved his decision until Nov. 2.

More Bike Lane(s?) Planned for City

"City council has directed its legal division to draft a parking ban along the east side of Canterbury Drive between Liverpool and Rochester streets. The parking ban will allow for the installation of bike lanes along Canterbury Drive.

Canterbury Drive is considered a major collector street and will be able to accommodate the bike lane.

Council has approved the preparation of the bylaw. No-parking signs will cost $200 and are within the 2011 sign budget."

Wait a minute... isn't Canterbury Drive already a bike lane? If any place in the city, bike lanes are desperately needed on Windsor Street, north end of Brookside Drive, Main Street, Waggoners/Dundonald/Beaverbrook and King Street. Are there any streets that you suggest that need a bike lane?

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1453875

Fredericton, Partager la Route

     "Partager la Route". This video can be summed up in three words. Essentially, this is a flash mob aimed at motorists to let them know about the presence of bicycles on the road. Any cyclist can claim a near miss by a careless driver, but nothing compares to the ultimate fate. Please, be kind to us, because we are people too and have every right to the road as much as you do.

Not Enough Enforcement - Daily Gleaner

Re: Cycling on sidewalks

I wholeheartedly support the stance taken by city councillor Stephen Chase on the issue of cyclists on city sidewalks: that more needs to be done to reduce this dangerous practice.

Councillor Kelly suggests we need a study to get the full picture on whether sidewalks could be shared with cyclists and skateboarders. But we don't need a study to know that a mix of fast-moving bicycles and foot traffic is dangerous.

One wonders why the city has spent all that money on providing safe cycle lanes if the sidewalk was an adequate, safe alternative.

Last year I raised the issue of non-enforcement of the city bylaw with Police Chief MacKnight stemming from two collisions (I have been clipped by a handlebar and a foot peddle) and one near-collision of my car with a speeding cyclist as I slowly reversed out of a shared driveway.

I do not think I am an unusual 'cycle magnet,' so I suspect that others in the downtown and university hill areas may have had similar experiences.

I was very disappointed to see the measure of the so-called enforcement that Chief MacKnight mentioned would happen. Just six tickets and 15 warnings in six months. This has clearly had little effect of deterrence, as I observed three cyclists on the sidewalk during a 10-minute walk to the FREX on Saturday.

Many times police cruise by sidewalk cyclists without issuing warnings.

I echo Counc. Chase's desire for better enforcement of the bylaw, and increases in fine occurrences as a deterrent measure, in conjunction with a raised general and campus awareness campaign.

Patrolling should include campus arterial routes too.

James Whitehead

Can Fredericton REALLY Do This?

Fredericton, NB (September 6, 2011) – Fredericton Transit, Green Matters and Regent Mall are partnering to promote World Carfree Day in Fredericton on September 22. World Carfree Day is an annual celebration held to raise awareness about the alternatives to vehicular transportation.

"City Council has made a commitment to sustainability by encouraging alternative forms of transportation, said Mayor Brad Woodside. "Recognizing events like Carfree Day helps to raise awareness about the benefits of using non-vehicular transportation".

To recognize World Carfree Day, representatives from Fredericton Transit, Green Matters, and Green Shops will be set up at the Regent Mall all day on September 22, sharing information about alternative transportation and active commuting. New transit schedules and trail maps will also be available. Visit the booth on that day, and be eligible to win some great active commuting prizes from our partners at the Regent Mall.

"With the Princess Margaret Bridge remaining closed into October, continuing to choose alternative forms of transportation helps ease traffic congestion and reduces fuel consumption and emissions," said Councillor Eric Megarity, Chair of the Public Safety and Environment Committee. "I encourage residents to try different commuting options when getting back into their regular routines."

World Carfree Day is a project of the World Carfree Network, founded in 1997. The Network is the hub of the global carfree movement, whose mission is to promote alternatives to vehicular transportation, and aims to reduce car dependence, and improving overall quality of life. More information can be found on the Network’s website, www.worldcarfree.net.

http://www.fredericton.ca/en/environment/NR2011Sep6CarFreeDay.asp

Sidewalk Cycling - Daily Gleaner

Two city councillors are on opposite sides of the page when it comes to biking on public sidewalks.

Coun. Stephen Chase wants to protect the safety of pedestrians by stepping up police enforcement, but Coun. Stephen Kelly would like to explore ways to allow shared usage of city sidewalks.

Since January to the end of August, the Fredericton Police Force has stepped up its enforcement efforts.

Police Chief Barry MacKnight said under the city's bylaw, tickets can be issued for not wearing helmets while cycling. There were 201 municipal tickets issued for the first half of the year, 19 of which were prosecutions and the rest were written warnings issued by the city's park patrol.

There were 15 municipal bylaw notices issued for riding a bicycle on a sidewalk. Six involved fines.

Under the provincial Motor Vehicle Act, 33 people were handed tickets for riding on the sidewalk or not wearing helmets. Nine were prosecutions.

"Since there is still a pretty high incidence of people riding sidewalks on downtown sidewalks - and I want to emphasize that my concern is downtown where we have a lot of pedestrian traffic, frequently seniors and in some cases the sidewalks are restricted with the (restaurant) terraces in the summer - we should step up our effort with public education or issuing warnings," Chase said.

But Kelly isn't in favour of clamping down on cyclists who use the city sidewalks to get around the downtown.

In fact, he's asking the city's transportation committee chairman, Coun. Bruce Grandy, to let him raise the topic of a sidewalk sharing policy that would embrace not just bicyclists, but also skateboarders and people on inline skates.

"I am not sure how widespread this problem or issue may be, but I am interested in learning more about shared usage of City of Fredericton sidewalks with bikes, boards and blades, and would like to request a staff report that would provide the committee with some background on the subject. In particular, what other cities are doing in our area, any legal issues that we should know about and what staff would see as the pros and cons associated with the issue and possible options and resource requirements if applicable," Kelly said.

"I am not suggesting we would support moving forward on the issue, but I think it's important we have the information we need should we want to go in any particular direction. I realize I am asking our staff to take on another report and they are busy, so perhaps this request could be put in the queue and staff could report back when they have had time to consider the issue."

Bike Lane Fail

     This "bike lane" on the bottom of Brookside sets the world record for the "World's Narrowest Bike Lane". I assume that they will be widening the shoulder of the road eventually, but for now it remains as a fail.

     I also wanted to let everyone know that the Valley Trail is now paved and marked. This is such a beautiful trail and it is well worth spending the afternoon to explore it.

The Problem With Fredericton Traffic Lights

      Next month, Fredericton is installing a bicycle-sensing traffic light at the York/Montgomery intersection, which is just one intersection. What about the other several hundred intersections? A few of the older intersections still use underground, metal detecting* activated lights which are completely hopeless to a cyclist since they require a minimum of half a tonne of metal to activate the lights. For instance the Cliffe/Union Street intersection still uses the underground sensors. You can see in the pavement a faint rectangle where the wires are located. The metal of the vehicle triggers the lights to change.

Note the black lines where the wires are located.

     Today's modern traffic lights use a motion sensor activated light. As the name suggest, when a car passes in its vision, it tells the light that there is a car waiting to cross. These lights are more efficient and accurate, but their sensitivity isn't strong enough to pick up cyclists or even motorbikes. Many new signalized and upgraded intersections in Fredericton have this type of light.

The black sensor on top of the light is aimed
 at the centre of the facing lane.

     It would easier for cyclists if bicycle actuated lights were implemented at the major intersections, but I think a simple button would be easier. For instance, this style of light is common on many Vancouver streets. For now, city cyclists will just have to hang behind a car or dismount and use the pedestrian lights.

Bicycle Laws

     Recently, I have been having issues with motorists passing me too close, not giving way, cutting me off or just being blatantly stupid. Included, is information for 'we the cyclists' of the road. I cannot stress more the importance of NOT cycling on the sidewalk. I saw a little girl almost get mowed down, and I do not want to think what could have happened. Here is a post from the provincial laws according to the June 2005 New Brunswick Driver's Handbook. 

     I must add the importance of vehicle drivers not to tailgate a cyclist. If a cyclists falls, they fall like a brick and stop dead in their tracks. A car would not be able to stop in time and would run over the cyclists. Please use common sense- it's not worth the risk of someone's life.

6.4 Drivers and Bicycles 

Riders of bicycles must obey the traffic rules and regulations that apply to all road users. Drivers must respect the bicyclist's right to share the road. 

Vehicle Drivers 

Bicyclists are at greater risk of death or injury- use extreme caution.
- Check your blind spot when turning left and especially when turning right.
- Bicyclists can dart in and out of traffic quickly, expect the unexpected.
- Give the bicyclist room, do not tailgate or crowd the bicyclist. 

Bicyclists 

You are at greater risk of death or injury in a collision.
- Let others know what you are going to do, use hand signals and be in the correct lane position.
- Check your blind spots.
- Avoid busy streets.
- Stay off sidewalks.
- Safe bicycling requires knowledge, skill and maturity.
- Keep your bicycle in good working order and properly equipped (i.e. horn, lights and reflectors and night). 

It is mandatory to wear an approved helmet when riding your bicycle.

Debris in Fredericton Bike Lanes

     I can handle the odd stick or puddle in the bike lanes, but it's a tad obstructive when there is lots of debris, pot holes, drain covers, rocks... or even fruit? I do have to admit that bike lanes are in far better condition then they were last year. Maybe it is due to the increased usage, keeping the clutter down. As always, there is always room for improvement. For instance, the street sweepers could go through the bike lanes once a month to help keep debris out of the bicycle lanes. York Street is the oldest bike lane in the city (2008), and it has been beaten up the last three years. It is likely the most heavily used bike lane in the entire city, so it is definitely important to keep it clear.

Rough section in front of the train station

A brave soul who dares to bike uphill for 2km

     I also have to ask, why do all of the bike lanes end before a major intersection? I understand the ideology is to force bicycle traffic to merge into to car traffic, but what happens during grid lock? Many bicycles take to the sidewalks or squeeze dangerously through cars. I think Fredericton should look into how Moncton deals with their bike lanes. I vote for a bicycle thru-fare! 

     This time it's me blocking the bike lane! I thought I would show off my 'new' bike in a typical bike lane on the North Side. 

     This is a rare occurrence, but there was apples all over this bike lane on Royal Road! Many have already been brushed to the side, but it can be dangerous to run over a round object with 1 1/4" tires. 

Fredericton Bixi Bikes?

     Fredericton’s downtown is not known for the immense amount of cyclists. Well, on the streets that is... Every Frederictonian knows the problem of sidewalk cyclists. Why is it such a problem? Could the by-law officers do a better job? It doesn’t help that we’re also lacking infrastructure downtown. The only routes remotely close are The Green and Church Street. With the lack of cyclists on streets, could this be increased by a bike share program like Bixi? In order for this system to work, Fredericton must first invest in infrastructure on downtown streets.
     Currently, there are four cities in Canada that have a Bixi Bike Program: Montréal, Toronto, Ottawa/Gatineau and London. Could Fredericton benefit from this program? I think yes! Even though our population is off by a couple million compared to Canada’s major urban centres, it has the potential to be successful. Could we convince citizens, tourists or businessmen/women to rent out a bike instead of renting an expensive SUV? A program like this would be great for people who: cannot afford to buy a bicycle, use one a few times a year or are commuters. Do you think it's feasible? Watch an instructional video below on how the system works.

   We all know about the problem of hills in our fair city. Yes, they look fantastic anaesthetically, but they are a nightmare to any cyclist- except downhill! That's why I think to anyone using a Bixi Bike should have free access to transit. So instead of cycling up York Street and getting all hot and sweaty for a meeting or work; rent a bike from downtown, hop on a bus and bike to your destination uptown! 

     It is such a great possibility, and it would only upset the motorists who have never sat their backsides on a bicycle their entire life. What do you think?

WWF Canada - The World Has Changed

Traffic Lights

     If you're brave enough to cycle in traffic in Fredericton, you probably notice the situation with traffic lights. You're waiting at the stop line for a green light, and you find yourself waiting for the light to change- a light that never changes. About 85% of traffic lights in this city are equipped with motion sensor activated lights. For those of you that do not understand- when a car passes in the motion sensor's vision, it flicks a switch telling Mr. Red-Light that there is a car waiting to proceed through the intersection. If you're a cyclist, you know it's impossible for the traffic lights to "see" you. The other 15% of lights are on 30 second or more cycles, meaning green light for 30 seconds in one direction and vice versa.
     How the flip are cyclists suppose to get through an intersection?! I think the motion sensitivity needs to be tweaked on the cameras to pick up cyclists, or maybe a special traffic light at major intersections? (Credit to Mikael for the picture.) I'm a little tired of doing a rain dance at an intersection for the light to sense me... Instead of dancing like a fool, I hang behind a car to do all the work for me.
     I'm sure every cyclist has encountered a motorist that misjudges the speed of a bicycle. For instance, this could mean a car passing a cyclist then turning right, cutting off the bicycle. This has happened to me a few times, and I definitely let the driver know. It's so tempting to lash out... Another situation is a car turning left, cutting off a bicycle coming in the other direction. These manoeuvres are extremely dangerous. Unfortunately, there isn't much a cyclist can do about it, other than to expect the unexpected.

New Brunswick Day

     Ah, it is nice to finally have a holiday where you can have an entire day to yourself. I spent the afternoon having a picnic on The Green watching people do their thing. Whether it be going for a holiday stroll, cycling or pushing their kids in strollers. Then there's the sensation of the lush grass tickling your toes and the quiet rush of the river a few metres away. It seems everyone was out enjoy this beautiful summer day!

     There has been some debate between the cyclists, joggers and the casual strollers on whether to pave the trail that winds its way through The Green. I guess they came up with a compromise to pave up to the Carleton Street Pedway. Even if it is just a short distance from the Light House to the pedway, it's better than getting a punctured tire to massive rocks! Hopefully this encourages cyclists to use the pedway instead of running across a four lane highway.

     There are some rare things to see in Fredericton, like a deer running through the Provincial Legislature. Even more rare, is to see a bike rack full of bikes! It is always so heart warming to see so many people taking an alternative to visit a park, or just downtown in general. 

     What better day than to chose a provincial holiday to protest shale gas drilling (hydro fracking) in our lovely province. Literally thousands of people showed up to protest and it was such an awesome sight to see so many people that do not want this controversial drilling method in our province. I totally forgot this protest was happening, until I was cycling by on Queen Street that I saw people swamped the legislature lawn. Honestly, I would have picked a better day, since none of the politicians were in office... Please check out the New Brunswickers Concerned About Shale Gas facebook page, and make sure to like it!

     Also make sure to like my facebook page and follow me on twitter. I am currently working on a contest and updates will be posted via twitter and facebook!

Cyclists Concerned Over Parking in Bike Lanes

Some Fredericton cyclists are raising safety concerns over the city's decision to allow vehicles to park in some of its new bike lanes.

Cyclists in the capital city will have nine more bike lanes to use by the end of the year.

Todd Young is one of many Fredericton cyclists who use the city's streets and trails every day.

Young said he believes the city is smart to add the new bike lanes.

But Young said he is worried that some of the bike lanes are open to vehicle parking.

"That creates the chance for cyclists to have to swerve around a car, and a car could be coming from behind or whatnot too," Young said.

"So it just creates an unnecessary danger for cyclists."

The city will have 45 kilometres of bike lanes by the end of 2011.

Cars will be able to park in about nine kilometres of the city's bike lanes, which are all located in residential neighbourhoods.

Darren Charters, the city's traffic engineer, said it's necessary to have parking available on one side of the street in those residential areas.

"To go in to a residential neighbourhood and remove all the on street parking would be very difficult for the residents," Charters said.

Charters said from a safety perspective, the city is comfortable with the decision because there is less traffic in those areas and vehicles tend to go slower.

"On the rare occasions where folks are parked on the street, cyclists can easily go out and around those parked vehicles," Charters said.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2011/07/28/nb-fredericton-bike-lanes-606.html

Keep this momentum going everyone! 

What Does a Diamond Mean Again?

     I guess I haven't made myself clear, or maybe I just do not have a big enough voice. Diamond = no parky parky. I am really hoping with the new Brookside Drive bike lane, that parking is not always going to be an issue. In fact, for all the new bike lanes in the city. I was cycling by the funeral home on the corner of Brookside and Douglas, and you guessed it- a funeral was going on. Now, I am not trying to upset the funeral attendees, but when there is a designated bike lane, you are not allowed to park in it. The bike lanes are official, and I have already covered that. So, shouldn't the by-laws be official too? I realize there are "no parking" signs set up yet, but they should be enforced. Would you park in a designated bus lane? Sadly, there is nothing I can do about it. I apologize in advance for the low resolution pictures, brought to you by my CrackBerry.

     If you haven't noticed, Brookside Drive is rather narrow in places, and it just got even narrower with the bike lanes AND with cars parked in it. For some reason, motorists feel the need to squeeze by you. Motorists, please exercise caution. It is not worth the risk of someone's life, just so you can get to your destination thirty seconds earlier. Can't we be friends on the road?  :)

Fredericton Bicycle Signage Confusion

     Apparently there is some confusion about the types of bicycle lanes in Fredericton. To be honest, I did not know the difference until a few weeks ago. With the increase of motorists and cyclists alike, disputes seem to be growing. It can range from, "You can't park there, it's a bike lane!" or even physical assault. Hopefully this article gives you some clarity on some of the rules of bike lanes. In a recent article from the Daily Gleaner, they state the types of bicycle lanes, but it does not help without visual representation. There are three types of bicycle lanes currently in use in Fredericton:

1. The green sign with a picture of a bicycle and “ROUTE” printed below the bicycle is the most confusing sign. It can be placed on roads with or without painted white lines. On the road, a solid white line and a bicycle are painted, but no diamond. This means that cars can park in this lane, unless otherwise posted by a no parking sign. Where the bicycle lane is painted on the road, it defeats the purpose of a bike lane if motorists are allowed to park in it...

2. This next sign is rather simple to understand. It features a black box with a white diamond in the top left corner. In the top right corner, there is a picture of a black bicycle. In the bottom left (or right) is an arrow pointing to where the lane is. To summarize, this sign means that this lane is a designated bicycle lane and cars are not permitted to drive or park in it.

3. The next sign is a yellow diamond (Square? Shreddie?) shape, warning motorists to look out and give enough room for cyclists. The sign is usually accompanied by a "SHARE THE ROAD | PARTAGER LA ROUTE" rectangular sign below. On roads that this sign is posted, the far right lane in each direction is generally wider so motorists can give cyclists a wide berth. 

Don't forget to check out my facebook page. Polls, questions and comments are all available there!