For the last 10 years, we have been told by everyone that cycling and public transport is the future. Yes, we are told that the car is a thing of the past and those who still believe in it should be shun on the public place like their are fossiles who belong to a different era. If we look at Canadian statistics, the number of 16 to 19 years old who have a driving license has been diminishing since 2009. So as 23 years old car fanatic who lives to drive, I belong to a minority and the rest of the population refuses to even try to understand that inner gut fascination for combustion fuel, mechanic and speed.
So is it really possible? The cohabitation of petrolhead and environmentalists? I believe that it's all in the attitude of everyone on the road. That where the answer really is. When there is an accident, newspapers and social medias without knowing any facts will almost immediately blame the driver of the car, saying he could not keep his distance or he was suffering from road rage that only seem to affect humans who drive motor vehicles. Well, at least in the mind of the cyclists and the social media. But are we really all sociopathic maniacs who are incapable of evaluating of distances? Yes we are after all better protected than cyclists, but do we really all believe that we are invincible?
Now, let's look at those cyclists who never put a foot over the line. They are on the road like cars, yet they zigzag through them to go faster, they go through red lights because for them those are just suggestions and obviously for them sharing the road mean get out of my way you idiot, so I can go slower in front of you. In Montreal, we live in a environmentalist society that venerates the cyclist even if he is not applying the laws which put his and our lives in danger. Now, I did use my bicycle in the city for a couple weeks and it is terrifying since it is not built or adapted for sharing the road, but I do believe there is a way to lower accidents and I found it in Germany.
Yes, in Germany, because they are enforcing the laws not only for cars but for cyclists as well. Here, in Montréal, there is not consequences if you go through a red light or maybe once in a blue moon you might get a nice warning from a police officer. Not in Germany. Go through a red light, it's 45 euros (62$) and they do give tickets. So as I always say, money is actually the solution. You want to act like a car, then you're going to get the consequences of a car and the cops will take away your hard earn money. Because yes, there are idiots who drive cars and there are morons on bicycles too, but to lower tensions maybe we should start blaming everyone the same for once.
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