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•T h e IF P • H al to n H ill s •T hu rs da y, J ul y 24 , 2 01 4 6 OPINION Cycling season is here and with it comes the need for cyclists and drivers to respect the rules of the road -- and each other. Too often motorists and cyclists cross paths with serious, sometimes fatal, consequences. We all know that when motorists and cyclists collide, it's the cyclist who pays the physical price. The driver could face legal consequences. Although motorists often 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. They are subject to the same traffic laws that govern cars, trucks and motorcycles. In addition to the action on the road, there are other safety issues to consider. Drivers or passengers opening their car doors in the path of cyclists, for instance, contributes to one of the most frequent car-bike collisions, often resulting in serious injury to cyclists. As well, who can forget the dramatic and well-publicized confrontation between Toronto bicycle courier Darcy Sheppard and former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant that cost Sheppard his life and Bryant a career and a marriage? Share the Road became the rallying cry of recently-elected Burlington MPP Eleanor Mc- Mahon after her off-duty OPP officer husband Greg Stobbart was killed in 2006 by a truck that was attempting to pass on a narrow section of road. • Following the law -- it's the safest way to ride. Cyclists have the same rights and duties as other drivers and need to follow the same traf- fic laws • Be predictable -- ride in a straight line, sig- nal turns and check behind you before turning or changing lanes • Ride with caution around parked cars and position yourself in the field of vision of a mo- torist pulling out of a parking space. The Independent & Free Press is published Thursday and is one of sev- eral Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copy- right. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The Independent & Free Press is a member of the Ontario Press Council, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns. For additional information or to file a complaint, contact info@ontpress.com or call 416-340-1981. The Independent & Free Press Share the road Letters to the editor As a resident of Georgetown South I would like to commend Jane Fogal, the Town's chair of the Trails and Cycling Advisory Com- mittee (www.haltonhills.ca/commit- tees/trails.php), for continuing to improve and encourage cycling and adding bike lanes to Miller Drive. Mr. White, in his June 26 letter, suggested that the money spent on bike lanes go to our hospital and that cyclists were safe enough mix- ing with traffic. That may be so with the experi- enced cyclist but that isn't the case with many of the young families in the South. By making our community safer for cyclists of all ages, we are en- couraging one of the most inexpen- sive and environmentally friendly modes of transportation possible while encouraging people of all ages to be more physically active and healthy. Some of you may not be aware of the Halton Hills Community Cy- cling Challenge. Just by logging in your cycling kilometres, you are helping to raise money for the hospital. Already 600 people have signed up at www.bikechallenge.ca and hopefully many more will do the same. It is free, fun for the whole family and will raise $66,000 for our hospital. Now that is a win-win! Betty D'Oliveira, Georgetown The Maple Leafs are the only NHL team on Forbes' list of the most valuable sports fran- chises. Do you think the Leafs are worth their value? • No (87%) • Yes (13%) WEB POLL RESULTS (Go to www.theifp.ca) Cycling benefits the community Too much rock Thanks for the honesty In the first week of July I had a senior's moment (twice). First time was at Canadian Tire on Guelph Street and the second time at the Real Canadian Super- store, also on Guelph Street, where I had left my wallet in the buggy, and both times my wallet was turned in. I would like to thank the individ- uals that took the time to turn it in (all intact). It is so nice to live in Halton Hills where honest people live. Dianne Tiverson, Halton Hills Re: Rock The Hills Although it is great to have this event to showcase local talent, Saturday was a terrible day for all the residents living in the area around the fairgrounds. This is not the right venue for such a noisy happening. Bass notes reverberated through the walls, we were trapped in our houses. Concerts like this should be held in one of the several arenas in Halton. Let us hope this never happens again. Dee Cope, Georgetown Letters must include the author's name, address and daytime phone number. Anony- mous letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publica- tion is not guaranteed. Email: cvernon@metroland.com Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 77, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. Letters policy 905-873-0301 Publisher: Dana Robbins General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@theifp.ca) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@theifp.ca) Managing editor: Chris Vernon (cvernon@metroland.com) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@theifp.ca) Classifieds/Real Estate Kristie Pells (classified@theifp.ca or realestate@theifp.ca) Classified Call Centre 1-855-415-8237 haltonhillsclassads@metroland.com Accounting 1-866-773-6575 Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@theifp.ca) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@theifp.ca) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@theifp.ca) Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox by signing up for our twice weekly electronic newsletter. Go to www.theifp.ca and click on 'Newsletter sign-up' at the bottom of the homepage.