The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

6 Independent & Free Press, Tuesday,June 7, 2011 OPINION Share the road The season of the cyclist is upon us and with it comes the need for cyclists and motorists to both demonstrate a respect for the rules of the road-- and each other. Too often in recent years, these two users of our roadways have crossed paths with serious, sometimes fatal, consequences. For example in Halton alone: two cyclists were injured-- one seriously-- last month after being hit by a driver. Last fall another cyclist was seriously injured after being hit by a driver who fled. A driver was charged last summer after a cyclist was punched and another bitten. Last April a Burlington cyclist was killed after sliding into the path of a car. What all these examples illustrate is that when motorists and cyclists collide, it is the cyclist who almost always loses-- while the motorist may face legal consequences. Although motorists may find the slower moving cyclist frustrating and distracting, the reality is that bicycles are vehicles under the Highway Traffic Act and therefore have the same privileges of using the road and are subject to the same traffic laws that govern cars, trucks and motorcycles. With gasoline prices reaching an all-time high and roads seemingly more clogged than ever with traffic, the number of cyclists using our roads isn't likely to decrease anytime soon. That means we have to all work together to understand our rights and responsibilities whenever we take to the streets or rural roads. Under our province's laws, cyclists and motorists must be permitted to share the road. Sometimes we can forget that both groups are afforded that same entitlement. As the summer heats up, keep your cool and try to think of the safety of everyone on the road. A poor decision you make while driving may leave a family without a loved one and you sitting in the back of a police cruiser. 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@independentfreepress.com) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@independentfreepress.com) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@independentfreepress.com) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@independentfreepress.com) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@independentfreepress.com) Letters policy Letters must include an address and daytime phone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publication is not guaranteed. Email: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Steve Nease Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. Letters to the editor UCHS could have afforded OSPCA fee Dear editor, I find a statement by Upper Credit Humane Society UCHS Chair Kathy York puzzling (UCHS decision angers volunteers, exworker May 24). She is quoted in The Independent & Free Press as saying "The cost associated with being affiliated with the OSPCA is an expense we can no longer afford." The OSPCA, in the same article has stated if the UCHS re-affiliates they "would not have to responsible for be investigation and enforcement costs", leaving only affiliation costs, thus resulting in a yearly savings of $14,400 for the UCHS. I wonder how the annual affiliation fee, which the chair acknowledged is $1,500, could have such a dramatic impact on the UCHS's financial situation? As a fundraising participant and the kitten foster program co-ordinator, I would have appreciated the innovative fundraising developed by the OSPCA and participated in their new training and educational opportunities. I believe $1,500 was an affordable expense to remain OSPCA. Barb Johnson, Georgetown Hospital issue is about taxation Dear editor, I just finished reading the Tuesday (May 31) edition of The Independent & Free Press and found it very amusing seeing the Mayor of Halton Hills begging the Ontario health minister to come up with the $1.8 million needed to finish the hospital project. I really don't remember being asked if I wanted to contribute any more than I already do with my provincial taxes. The issues here aren't who can use our hospital or whether we need the CT scanner or not. The issue to me is taxation is killing us, and it seems the first answer every politician has is to raise the taxes of the working people. Just a question to Mayor Bonnette: Are American companies going to be able to bid on the expansion? J. Knight, Acton Artisans' cottage is a hidden gem Dear editor, There's a gem in Cedarvale Park which more people need to know about. It's the Credit Valley Artisans' cottage. My husband and I recently completed stained glass classes there taught by Susan and it was the best value for the money we've received in a long time. Sue and her family bent over backwards to help the class, coming in early to get set up, helping with cutting, and teaching the steps involved in producing a beautiful keepsake. She even connected us with a friend of hers who was sellling her stock due to downsizing. Even though the classes are finished, it's a hobby we're going to continue with for many years to come. Don't wait until you retire to take a class, update your bucket list now and sign up for a class. Jane Greenhill, Georgetown WEB POLL RESULTS (Go to www.independentfreepress.com) Halton Police have launched a Share the Road awareness campaign aimed at area drivers and cyclists. Which group, do you think, is more to blame for problems on the road? · Cyclists (61%) · Both are equally at fault (32%) · Drivers (7%) The Independent & Free Press The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.