GuelphToday received the following Letter to the Editor from Ben Carter in response to a recent letter regarding bicycles on sidewalks.
Dear editor
In response to "Bicycles need to stay off sidewalks": Let me just say, as a 14-year-old cyclist, I only bike on the sidewalks occasionally because of the horrible biking infrastructure.
Biking in Guelph has always been horrible, and is only starting to improve now. The lack of protected bike lanes, maintained in the winter, or for that matter, even bike lanes at all, is disgraceful to all cyclists.
Cyclists are barely ever given enough space, especially on Paisley and Speedvale, where bike lanes are very patchy. I only bike on the road if there is a bike lane, or if bikes are given enough space.
I agree with the letter writer, in that bikes should be off sidewalks if they are not equipped with a bell. The only reason cyclists bike on the sidewalk, is for self protection, and due to the lack of cycling infrastructure.
If I am going to stop biking on the sidewalk, I need adequate cycling infrastructure.
Ben Carter
