The fast lane

Now cyclists can zoom right downtown in a fraction of the time it would take them to walk or drive, especially when we factor in the time lost searching for that elusive parking spot — not to mention the headache of constantly feeding the meter once they do find one. No one can argue against the health merits either, for cycling is good for the individual and the environment.

But there is a down side that must be addressed.

Even before the recent extension, Westmounters were well aware of the dangers posed by both pedestrians and cyclists on the strip of bike path that runs through Westmount Park.

Local resident Nicholas Smith, an avid cyclist who has witnessed enough near accidents on the bike path, brought the issue to public attention last year through questions at city council meetings and letters that were published in the Examiner.

Cyclists are, for the most part, decent, law-abiding citizens — but we all know that many cannot resist that sweet temptation to pedal up to top speed on a quiet stretch of bike path or ignore a red light at an intersection if there are no cars around. By the same token, pedestrians tend not to respect the fact that bike paths are reserved for cyclists only. How often have we seen people strolling casually along the bike path in Westmount Park or stepping off the sidewalk and crossing a path without bothering to check in both directions for an oncoming bike?

What a lot of people don't seem to realize is that anyone who gets hit by a 10-speed going 30 km/hr is definitely going to the hospital — or worse.

Some have pointed out that the bike path should not be partitioned off, that pedestrians should be allowed to cross it wherever they please, because any physical barrier would be an eyesore. Unfortunately, such a barrier might be necessary.

Now, the extended bike path has attracted many more users, which means a sharp increase in bicycle traffic, and by extension a sharp increase in the odds in favour of an eventual mishap. Add to this the many more cyclists who are now travelling through Westmount at night, in the dark, and the danger increases.

At the risk of dragging out that tired old cliché, the new path is an accident waiting to happen.