I think the problem with the approach to these accidents is it is based on deciding whether to charge the driver or cyclist with something rather than the primary goal of accident investigation, which is to avoid further accidents.
There was a recent article in the Gazette about a study of the most dangerous intersections in Montreal for cyclists. Once again, another accident has occurred between a cyclist and a motor vehicle at an intersection.
Yet, what efforts are being made to improve safety at intersections? This link offers some solutions:
http://bikeunion.to/protected-bike-lanes/intersections-driveways
Perhaps something as simple as painting the extension of the bike lane through the intersection would alert motorists to use caution.
Wednesday 25 July 2012
Tuesday 24 July 2012
Another two-wheeled casualty in Montreal
A sad day in Montreal as a cyclist is killed by a turning truck at an intersection between Cremazie and Rue Jarry on Christophe-Colombe.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Montreal+cyclist+dies+truck+collision+bicycle+path/6980172/story.html
The report says the man was riding on the bike path and going through the intersection on the green light. The accompanying photo even shows he was wearing a helmet.
How does something like this happen?
Amazingly, some of the comments under the article on the Gazette website manage to blame the cyclist!
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Montreal+cyclist+dies+truck+collision+bicycle+path/6980172/story.html
The report says the man was riding on the bike path and going through the intersection on the green light. The accompanying photo even shows he was wearing a helmet.
How does something like this happen?
Amazingly, some of the comments under the article on the Gazette website manage to blame the cyclist!
Sunday 22 July 2012
Sea of contrasts
Lake Erie, being relatively shallow, can become quite rough particularly if the winds are from the Northeast or Southwest in line with the long axis of the lake. An overnight transit across the lake brought us abeam of Southeast Shoal light at daylight with a good sea running.
It is hard to imagine that this light use to be manned by two lightkeepers until the 1990's. Long walks would definitely not be on the list of activities.
Bad weather rarely lasts long on the Great Lakes except in late fall so the next day brought clear skies and calm weather.
A cement carrying vessel is just entering Amherstburg Channel at Bar Point light to transit the Detroit River.
It is hard to imagine that this light use to be manned by two lightkeepers until the 1990's. Long walks would definitely not be on the list of activities.
Bad weather rarely lasts long on the Great Lakes except in late fall so the next day brought clear skies and calm weather.
A cement carrying vessel is just entering Amherstburg Channel at Bar Point light to transit the Detroit River.
Tuesday 10 July 2012
South shore sightseeing
A beautiful, cloudless day spurred me to head across the river and take the Route Verte to Chambly. However, I should have checked out the Velo Quebec website since part of Riverside road is torn up for construction. The detour signs were not very helpful, but I eventually got through the maze of Longueil and onto the path.
Once you get through the streets of Chambly, the path follows the Bassin for a short section and then connects onto the path that follows the Chambly Canal towards St-Jean-sur-Richilieu.
As I was only doing a day trip, I stopped around bridge 4 but I could not help taking a picture of an unusual bird 'condo'.
My return trip had me zig-zagging around the construction again so that by the time I got to St. Lambert lock the bridge was up for a passing ship.
Perhaps this was Karma for last October when I came through the lock on my ship, but I certainly did not make cyclists wait an hour before I entered the lock.
It is hard to fathom why the Seaway needs to close the bike path and raise the bridge so much in advance of an arriving ship. Their explanation leaves a lot to be desired.
It seems to make no sense; open the bridge 45 minutes before the ship arrives because it takes over a mile to stop the ship in an emergency?! Ships are only travelling at six knots in the South Shore Canal and then they would be slowing down to under three knots as they make for the approach wall. Once on the wall, a ship is normally moving at a knot to a knot and a half.
It would probably be more helpful if there was a poster explaining the process of a ship entering and securing in the lock to show why they have to wait until the ship is secured in the lock with the gates closed before the bridge is lowered again.
Thirty minutes later, the ship called the Kaministiqua, finally starts to approach the lock.
I'm not sure what the responsibility is regarding control of the bike path section of the bridge since it is Seaway property, but the system is very inefficient. A security guard sits in a booth and has to lock/unlock the gates at either end of the path before and after each bridge opening/closing. So, you have the unusual sight of a person walking across the bridge, key in hand, as dozens of cyclists trail behind until the other gate is opened.
Surely, an organization such as the Seaway, which has automated almost every function in its system, could come up with a better arrangement for opening and closing these barriers?
They do, however, provide information on their website about ship movements http://www.greatlakes-seaway.com/en/navigating/map/index_mlo.html and bridge status http://www.greatlakes-seaway.com/R2/jsp/R2.jsp?language=E&loc=MaiBrdgStatus.jsp (Bridge 3-Upper St Lambert Lock is the one you are interested in).
What with the construction and the bridge roulette it might be another four years before I see the South Shore again!
Once you get through the streets of Chambly, the path follows the Bassin for a short section and then connects onto the path that follows the Chambly Canal towards St-Jean-sur-Richilieu.
As I was only doing a day trip, I stopped around bridge 4 but I could not help taking a picture of an unusual bird 'condo'.
My return trip had me zig-zagging around the construction again so that by the time I got to St. Lambert lock the bridge was up for a passing ship.
Perhaps this was Karma for last October when I came through the lock on my ship, but I certainly did not make cyclists wait an hour before I entered the lock.
It is hard to fathom why the Seaway needs to close the bike path and raise the bridge so much in advance of an arriving ship. Their explanation leaves a lot to be desired.
It seems to make no sense; open the bridge 45 minutes before the ship arrives because it takes over a mile to stop the ship in an emergency?! Ships are only travelling at six knots in the South Shore Canal and then they would be slowing down to under three knots as they make for the approach wall. Once on the wall, a ship is normally moving at a knot to a knot and a half.
It would probably be more helpful if there was a poster explaining the process of a ship entering and securing in the lock to show why they have to wait until the ship is secured in the lock with the gates closed before the bridge is lowered again.
Thirty minutes later, the ship called the Kaministiqua, finally starts to approach the lock.
I'm not sure what the responsibility is regarding control of the bike path section of the bridge since it is Seaway property, but the system is very inefficient. A security guard sits in a booth and has to lock/unlock the gates at either end of the path before and after each bridge opening/closing. So, you have the unusual sight of a person walking across the bridge, key in hand, as dozens of cyclists trail behind until the other gate is opened.
Surely, an organization such as the Seaway, which has automated almost every function in its system, could come up with a better arrangement for opening and closing these barriers?
They do, however, provide information on their website about ship movements http://www.greatlakes-seaway.com/en/navigating/map/index_mlo.html and bridge status http://www.greatlakes-seaway.com/R2/jsp/R2.jsp?language=E&loc=MaiBrdgStatus.jsp (Bridge 3-Upper St Lambert Lock is the one you are interested in).
What with the construction and the bridge roulette it might be another four years before I see the South Shore again!
Sunday 8 July 2012
Head east young man
My ankle held up to a ride out to Dorval on Thursday so I decided to ride out to the east end of the island. I prefer to ride out along the Notre Dame bike path and then come back along boulevard Gouin. It can be a downer and rather dusty riding on the path against the traffic with the many transport trucks moving back and forth from the container docks.
Near the end of the Port of Montreal docks in the east is a nice little park called Rene-Labrosse where you can see tankers docked just along the shore and other vessels waiting at anchor.
Rather than continuing all the way to the extreme east end of the island I turned in to the Parc Nature de la Pointe aux Prairies. The access from rue Notre Dame is not well indicated so you need to watch out for it, but it is a pleasant ride on gravel paths. Take care, though, as some spots are soft sand that can catch your front wheel if you are not careful.
They've done some work at the overpass crossing the highway 40; just follow the signs for Pavillon des Marais to get you to Boulevard Gouin. You'll know you are going in the right direction if you smell the distinctive aroma of the sewage plant!
Near the end of the Port of Montreal docks in the east is a nice little park called Rene-Labrosse where you can see tankers docked just along the shore and other vessels waiting at anchor.
Rather than continuing all the way to the extreme east end of the island I turned in to the Parc Nature de la Pointe aux Prairies. The access from rue Notre Dame is not well indicated so you need to watch out for it, but it is a pleasant ride on gravel paths. Take care, though, as some spots are soft sand that can catch your front wheel if you are not careful.
They've done some work at the overpass crossing the highway 40; just follow the signs for Pavillon des Marais to get you to Boulevard Gouin. You'll know you are going in the right direction if you smell the distinctive aroma of the sewage plant!
Saturday 7 July 2012
Anti-cycling insurgents
It might just be paranoia, but it seems to me that every time I am riding on bike paths and bike lanes around Montreal there are always shards of broken glass from bottles tossed onto the asphalt.
You never seem to see broken glass on the road where cars are travelling. I can only theorize that as the number of cyclists increase in the city and the frustration of motorists increases with the incessant road construction causing traffic delays throughout the city, people are taking out their frustration by tossing bottles onto the bike paths.
We are not your enemy.
Just park your car and you'll calm right down.
You never seem to see broken glass on the road where cars are travelling. I can only theorize that as the number of cyclists increase in the city and the frustration of motorists increases with the incessant road construction causing traffic delays throughout the city, people are taking out their frustration by tossing bottles onto the bike paths.
We are not your enemy.
Just park your car and you'll calm right down.
Head in the Clouds
Almost made me sick on Friday watching the Tour de France stage 6 and seeing Ryder Hesjedal go down in a crash with 25km to go. He somehow got back on the bike and finished the stage, but 13 minutes behind the winner ending his chances at the yellow jersey. Then, he could not start stage 7 and had to abandon.
The thing that really upset me, though, was my frustration regarding the strategy (or lack of) employed by the Garmin-Sharp team management. With one flat stage to go before hitting the first of the mountain stages, team manager, Jonathan Vaughters, decides to send one of his riders, David Zabriskie, out in the breakaway instead of using him and the other Garmin riders to keep Ryder at the head of the peleton.
The other teams with major GC contenders such as Sky and BMC were doing just that, but this seemed too simple a tactic, perhaps, for Vaughters.
I could not help noticing that every time they showed an image from the Garmin-Sharp car, Vaughters had his faced glued to his phone. Maybe he should have paid more attention to the race and protecting his main asset, Ryder Hesjedal.
It's hard not to wonder if the fact that Ryder is a Canadian riding on an American team might have had something to do with the half-hearted commitment from Vaughters. How to explain never seeing any Garmin riders at the front of the peleton until stage 7 when Ryder had abandoned.
It really is a puzzle when you consider that he won the Giro d'Italia, his first time riding as the acknowledged leader of the team, with a team that had been divided between the Giro and the Tour of California. You would think that all of Garmin's energies would be directed at supporting Ryder in winning the Tour de France.
I just hope his injuries are not so severe as to affect his chances at the Olympics in August or the Canadian races here in September.
Thursday 5 July 2012
Over the Moon
Probably the most expensive way to take in the Jazz Festival or Cirque du Soliel is to travel to Montreal aboard the mega-yacht Luna.
Since it is owned by one of the richest men in Russia, I guess he can afford to send it anywhere in the world. http://www.charterworld.com/news/expedition-motor-yacht-luna
Even one of her tenders would be an awesome boat for cruising.
And if you get tired of looking at the water, this vessel has enough satellite antennas to watch pretty well anything being broadcast.
The back deck has enough room to accommodate all the people in the Old Port; too bad it is secured in front of Habitat 67 instead of at one of the Old Port's wharves.
In any case, it gave me lots to daydream about on the ride home so that I didn't even notice the Berri hill.
Since it is owned by one of the richest men in Russia, I guess he can afford to send it anywhere in the world. http://www.charterworld.com/news/expedition-motor-yacht-luna
Even one of her tenders would be an awesome boat for cruising.
And if you get tired of looking at the water, this vessel has enough satellite antennas to watch pretty well anything being broadcast.
The back deck has enough room to accommodate all the people in the Old Port; too bad it is secured in front of Habitat 67 instead of at one of the Old Port's wharves.
In any case, it gave me lots to daydream about on the ride home so that I didn't even notice the Berri hill.
Tuesday 3 July 2012
Border Crossing
Canada Day Weekend was a good time to get out of Montreal and try a new place for biking. I decided to take a suggestion from Cycle Fun Montreal's blog http://cyclingfunmontreal.blogspot.ca/ and check out the Tamifobia Nature Trail in the Townships.
We chose Ayer's Cliff as our starting point, but instead of biking to Stanstead we crossed the border at Beebe and picked up the Beebe Spur Rail Trail on to Newport, Vermont. There is not a direct connection between the two trails as you have to show your passport at the border crossing in Beebe and then take North Derby Road for a couple of kilometers to the west once in Vermont. Still, it is worth the wait at the border as the Beebe Spur is a very scenic trail.
We did not find too much of interest in Newport, but a fine, healthy lunch can be had at the Montgomery Cafe on Main Street where we consumed a tasty lentil soup. http://www.newportnaturalfoods.com/
There is a beach in town along with a campground called Prouty Beach, which we passed on our way into town. But, for some reason, there was no one swimming.
We were surprised to find very few other cyclists on either path; probably because they are not connected to a network like the Route Verte. However, the seclusion fit nicely with the natural environment and made for a peaceful ride.
One thing to note is that there are no services along these trails so you will want to bring enough water at the beginning to at least get you to Beebe where there is a store on the stretch of road between the trail and the border.
We chose Ayer's Cliff as our starting point, but instead of biking to Stanstead we crossed the border at Beebe and picked up the Beebe Spur Rail Trail on to Newport, Vermont. There is not a direct connection between the two trails as you have to show your passport at the border crossing in Beebe and then take North Derby Road for a couple of kilometers to the west once in Vermont. Still, it is worth the wait at the border as the Beebe Spur is a very scenic trail.
We did not find too much of interest in Newport, but a fine, healthy lunch can be had at the Montgomery Cafe on Main Street where we consumed a tasty lentil soup. http://www.newportnaturalfoods.com/
There is a beach in town along with a campground called Prouty Beach, which we passed on our way into town. But, for some reason, there was no one swimming.
We were surprised to find very few other cyclists on either path; probably because they are not connected to a network like the Route Verte. However, the seclusion fit nicely with the natural environment and made for a peaceful ride.
One thing to note is that there are no services along these trails so you will want to bring enough water at the beginning to at least get you to Beebe where there is a store on the stretch of road between the trail and the border.
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