WEST NOVA FAMILY BLOG

The unlimited ways drivers force cyclists off the roads

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I am a driver, a transit user and a cycle-commuter. I drive out of necessity (i.e. when I must travel across town to pick up my children). I use transit when I am not required to drive and choose not to cycle. I cycle when I can and feel safe enough to do so. My safety is effected by a large number of factors, including weather, but almost entirely involving drivers. I would have cycle-commuted WITH my children in tow in our bike trailer (and nearly eliminated my need to commute by car), however after limited attempts to do so determined it was far too risky in almost all parts of Halifax.

There are particular parts of the city where it is simply not safe for cyclists because drivers are ignorant to how they effect a cyclist’s safety (and some appear ignorant to the fact that cyclists even exist). For this reason, I “choose” to illegally ride on the sidewalk in short stretches where I feel my life would otherwise be significantly placed at risk. Occasionally, I simply have no choice but to hop onto the sidewalk, rather than be plowed down by a car. Roads are built for transportation, not just for cars, drivers would be a lot less likely to take the lives of other users of transportation if they would remain aware of this fact.

After reading a local journalist’s comment about how cyclists must to choose if they are traffic or pedestrians, I was inspired to come up with a list of some of the (most common) of the unlimited ways drivers force cyclists off the road:

  • hugging the curb (NOT “Sharing the road”)
  • passing stopped/slowed vehicles on the right (including pulling into marked bike lanes) – and I will note MOST drivers do not shoulder check for cyclists prior to doing so
  • driving in bike lanes as if it is an additional lane
  • pulling out of streets/driveways in front of cyclists – drivers often under-estimate (or simply do not care?) how quickly cyclists are approaching
  • turning right alongside of cyclists – again, was there a shoulder check? Did the driver not note the cyclists they passed upon their approach to the turn?
  • making left turns across traffic in front of cyclists – drivers often under-estimate (or simply do not care?) how quickly cyclists are approaching
  • drivers opening doors of parked cars into approaching cyclists

(I welcome additions from other cyclists to this list.)

Filed Under: Advocacy, General, Health & Fitness, West Nova Family Tagged With: , , , , ,

say what?

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“I’ll eat it, but I don’t have to like it!” My six year old daughter says so many things beyond her years. Today it was the butternut squash risotto I was buying, just to try it, that she referred to. Squash soup being the bane of her existence, this risotto I’m sure sounded to her to be a very close second. I had to laugh as she tried to negotiate her way out of it, before I even got it out of the store.

I just never know what is going to come out of this little girl’s mouth. She is taking everything in around her, even when (or perhaps: especially when) she does not appear to be listening at all. Often times we are driving our daily commute home at the end of the day, the radio is generally tuned to the news station to catch the frequent traffic updates, and my daughter is blabbering on about some nonsense, singing the latest music class favourite, or simply gazing out the window, when suddenly she’ll ask me a very pointed question about the news story that was just being covered. I have to admit, my mind is rarely on the news at hand, instead it’s wandering to some other topic, and I haven’t a clue what exactly she just heard.

We’ve discussed the razing of Africville and the long awaited apology and compensation. She has suggested repeatedly how great it will be when we can go to the Africville interpretive centre as if it will be opening tomorrow. I’ve tried to explain that I really have no idea how long it will take for this to actually be a reality, but this matters not to her. What a fantastic place this Africville must have been and what horrible treatment they received!

Not far from our home there is a lot of new construction going up, some being at the cost of lovely trees, trails and wildlife – another topic of conversation likely initiated by the same. But there are also large condos being built where small single family homes until recently had occupied. I am told that my daughter recently informed Ian that “they had to tear down people’s houses to build that condo, just like Africville!” Well, sweety, it’s actually not very much like Africville. I’m pretty sure the people that lived in THOSE houses were paid well for their homes, homes that it would seem they weren’t even living in anymore. People in Africville were forced out of homes that they did not want to sell. And they’re entire community was torn down with it. Remember, that is why they were finally getting an apology from the city?

Or what about the time she told me that she was pretty sure that a lot of “those people who are asking for money for food, or coffee, or something, don’t really NEED that money, they just WANT it.” I don’t know exactly what gave her that idea, but she knows that we only give people on the street food, not cash.

I really ought to keep a record of her insights. She sounds well beyond her years, so often.

Filed Under: Parenting, West Nova Family

This week and running

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So after my 29:03 5K fun run/race on the weekend I decided it might be time to pick up the pace on my “training runs”. Basically all I run anymore are 5k’s on my own and I have been taking it easy, but really not getting out with any regularity. Sometimes I get out twice in a week, sometimes (like before this race) I get out once miss three weeks then get out again once…

I know I need to run about 3-4 times/week to experience any real benefit from it, and would like to get back onto a training plan for a real goal, however for now I’ve decided if I can run sub 30 on a 5k fun run with next-to-no-training, then I can probably swing my 30 minute 5k’s again on a regular basis. So, I ran the next day and did a 30:21, it felt good. Ankle felt a little stiff and achy, but otherwise good. Unfortunately, life got in the way all week and I didn’t make it out again until today, (my start to my new three day weekends!) So it looks like my 3 runs/week might just be happening on F, Sa, Su. With an extra in there mid-week when I can manage it.

So today’s run: Granted it was mostly downhill, but my flat/slightly uphill sections were also VERY windy… I ran a 28:23 5K!!! (Faster than my race on Sunday!)

Even more exciting, no taping of the ankle and ZERO pain!!! Woohoo!!!

Filed Under: Health & Fitness, West Nova Family

The “O” Race

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So most people have an “A” Race that they train for, many even have a “B” race that meets some secondary goal. I had an “O” Race. Wasn’t trained for it, and it’s likely my ONLY race of the year this year after a couple of DNS (did not start) events.

So, at the last minute my little green monster decided that “Hey! I wanna race too! They’re all doin’ it!” My first ever last minute race entry – was for a 5k Fun Run, at Ian’s “A” Race event, the Valley Harvest Marathon. He was well trained and ready to go, I on the other hand was not. However, I KNEW I was capable of running the 5k, it is the only distance I HAVE run in the last six months really, so what odds? I had not time goal. I had no goal at all really, just go out and run.

I had no watch, but simply ran by feel pushing it as much as I felt was reasonable, after a long, long, long ankle sprain recovery. I didn’t think I had a hope of beating 30 mins today. I was pleasantly surprised. Not only did I run without pain, or re-injury, but I came in at 29:03 (clock time); 28:52 chip time.

It was a great morning, and all of my friends had awesome runs and a fun time. Ian smashed his PR/PB (whatever you want to call it), with a new personal record/best by nearly FORTY minutes!!! I’m very proud, and also a little relived that the marathon training is over, for now.

Filed Under: Health & Fitness, West Nova Family

Starting over again

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So after 8 weeks of rehab, rest and recovery I started doing some activities. I had gotten out to swim a few times but nothing consistent – this was largely due to the six week university course I also started shortly after the sprain. So far I’ve managed a few bikes to the lake for a swim and a couple of runs that were quite successful. the sad thing is now my body has flared up and I ma hurting like crazy, not sleeping well, only to relive the cycle. I hate fibromylagia and the way it makes my body work (or not work to be honest). I tried to be careful t not over do it and yet I sit here after four days of rest feelign very much like I over did it. It’s not just the ankle, which actually feels relatively good, it’s the back, neck & shoulders – the bane of my existance – and the poor sleep – these really get to me.

/end rant

Filed Under: Health & Fitness, West Nova Family

Trish rocks the OIM Half for Team Diabetes!

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I’m going to keep this short, as this really isn’t about the run, it’s about the cause. The run was just a celebration of having accomplished the goal to support the Canadian Diabetes Association. All that matters now is that I am done! This means tomorrow I get to go see my beloved sister whom I have not seen since months before her Type I diagnosis this time last year!

As many know this was a very questionable event for me, and I didn’t know if I should even stick with the half distance, after having already switched to it from the full. However, I am so glad I chose to stick it out! I started, I finished, and I did NOT PW! I had a great run, with only a bit of tightness in my ITB’s, and no real pain in my knees whatsoever – my ankle was completely healed from the spill down the stairs, and gave me no issues at all.

I got to run for some time with Tracy, who is doing her Team Diabetes full at Dublin in 2 weeks! I was so glad to meet one of the runners I would have been running with, under optimal circumstances. We ran together for a good portion of the run.

I ran a clear negative split and enjoyed the gradual uphill climb for the first half of the run (it was all downhill or flat from the turnaround to the finish). I didn’t take a walk break until 12km! I walked short spurts at several water stations, but other than that only had a couple of walk breaks from 12km to the finish. I finished somewhere around 2:18:xx (by the clock). I don’t know where the official results are posted just now.

Ian and the girlies were there to see me at the start and finish, and I got to celebrate with a number of other Team D participants. We’ll have a celebration dinner this evening!

It’s over now and time to celebrate. If anyone would like to contribute to the cause still, I am able to continue to collect donations. Perhaps I’ll carry over the “extra” to another Team Diabetes event, and someday run that full!

I’ll post some pix later. Smile

Filed Under: Advocacy, Health & Fitness, West Nova Family
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