Vancouver’s bike lanes are apparently angering business owners and certain drivers who believe the city is becoming “too bike-friendly.” According to this article, critics claim:
- A pedestrian was hit and killed by a cyclist.
- The new bike lanes are causing confusion and hostility.
The First Complaint: A Cyclist Killed a Pedestrian
So let me get this straight. One pedestrian death caused by a cyclist is now grounds for rethinking bike lanes?
Meanwhile, dozens, if not hundreds, of pedestrians are hit and killed by cars every year, but no one suggests banning roads. By this logic, shouldn’t we also remove all pedestrian sidewalks? After all, pedestrians sometimes bump into each other too – clearly, sidewalks are dangerous!
Of course, that would be idiotic.
Bike lanes exist precisely to separate cyclists from cars and pedestrians – to reduce accidents, not increase them. If anything, Vancouver needs more bike lanes, not fewer.
The Second Complaint: Cyclists Are Being Cursed At
Oh no, people are swearing at cyclists? That must be a brand-new phenomenon… except it’s not.
- Drivers curse at each other constantly – for changing lanes too slowly, for stopping too long at a sign, for existing in their way.
- Pedestrians get honked at when they jaywalk or take too long crossing the street.
- Cyclists sometimes curse at drivers for almost killing them.
News flash: everyone who shares the road experiences hostility at some point. The fact that a cyclist got cursed at isn’t proof that bike lanes are “bad.” It just proves that humans are impatient.
The Real Problem Isn’t Bike Lanes – It’s Bad Road Users
Instead of whining about bike lanes, maybe Vancouverites should address the actual issues:
- Bad drivers who don’t check for cyclists before turning.
- Drunk drivers who shouldn’t be on the road at all.
- Oblivious pedestrians who step into bike lanes without looking.
- Careless cyclists who ignore traffic rules.
The solution isn’t to remove bike lanes. It’s to educate people on how to use the damn roads properly.
So no, Vancouver isn’t going “too far” with bike lanes. If anything, it’s finally catching up to cities that understand bikes belong, too.
