Hey RingPop (& anyone else)

PreppySailor

Was just wondering what your thoughts are about the updates in the car/cycylist case. I have a feeling Bryant will be cleared of charges based on being who he is, not sure though.Back when he was the Attorney General, he came to speak to my journalism class at Brock, seemed like a nice guy; snappy dresser.

3plus2=5

I don't think he'll necessarily cleared of all the charges.  I do think that they may be more lenient towards him when it comes time for sentencing though or lowering the charges to something less serious.  I think I read that one of the charges has a maximum sentence of life in prison and another has a maximum of 14 years.  I don't see him being given anywhere near that amount of time.

ring_pop

My thoughts:1. I hope it brings some awareness to the un-cycle-ability of this city and brings some change in the way our infrastructure is set up.2. I definitely don't think that Bryant was the only one at fault. He's just lucky to be the one still alive. I can't really comment on whether I think he'll be indicted or acquitted, as I just don't know enough about how the legal system works for this kind of thing, nor do I have any real opinions on how good our legal system is.3. So many of our world's problems could be solved if we just let our egos down a little.

kaesha

I wonder if he'll plead guilty.Can I say, I feel a bit jaded by the cyclist/car dynamic here in Toronto. I grew up in Ottawa, and everyone there is really good about sharing the space. But, here in Toronto, the cyclists blame the drivers for not sharing and the drivers blame the cyclists for being erratic. I don't know... I've seen awfully bad drivers of both vehicles. My fiancé has been hit twice in our 2 years here - once by a car and once by a cyclist. Both at the same intersection by people ignoring a stop sign. Yeesh.

ring_pop

Your "husband" kaesha, HUSBAND. :)I agree with you though. When I was in Vancouver I saw lots of cyclists on the road, and I couldn't help but think, Wow - these guys are actually not jerks! I'm not on either side because I'm both a motorist and cyclist. But I do think there are lots of jerks in both camps.I started being a lot more relaxed on the road when I started listening to classical music in my car. I wish more people would just chill.

ring_pop

I do have to say that as a cyclist, I do find this city really hard to navigate by bike. I can't speak for Ottawa or Vancouver in terms of cycle-ability, but I am sometimes a little erratic too, because it's just not that easy or obvious to get around.

PreppySailor

I agree about Vancouver being much more bicycle/pedestrian friendly than TO. I have enough trouble walking around in Oakville without being hit.

psycotic_penguin

Dont know the store but i know here in montreal the cyclists are horrible. Sometimes i do feel bad for them because it is hard to navigate the city when biking but there are some cyclists that just dont care and really do think they have the right of way everywhere. I've come really close to hitting some...well some of those times i moved the car closer out of spite ^_-

PreppySailor

Wow penguin, that's a little intense.I heard a great quote from the minister of transportation. He said "transportation has never been about moving cars, it has always been about moving people."

psycotic_penguin

perhaps but i have to follow the rules and when their light is red and mine is green it doesnt mean they can cut me off so i do hold resentment towards them....not all are like this i know but when i see one clearly not following any road signs for cyclists i will get annoyed and honk or move closer depending which is appropriate. Like pedestrians, here in montreal its a free for all and drivers should par more attention but their are alot of drivers who do pay attention but cant constantly check each angle of the car while turning or going straight....if everyone was nicer then it would be great but unfortunately its not like that so there are times when i do need to show a cyclist that no he/she does not have the right away. And sometimes they need to show drivers that they do not have the right of away and until the roads are better suited for cyclists, which they should be, cyclists should realize there are drivers who will pay no attention to them and to be careful.