Editor:
In response to the letter from Mr. Armstrong (Coast Reporter letters, Aug. 6, "Use bike lanes properly"), I agree that cyclists riding on the left side of the bike lane white line is a problem, and not only in Halfmoon Bay.
I cycle from Roberts Creek to Gibsons on a regular basis, and the cyclists I have questioned say they cannot use the bike lane because of the debris accumulated on it (large branches, chunks of bark from logging trucks, pieces of metal, litter thrown from car windows, rocks, sand, soil and mud when it rains).
Those I questioned were riding road bikes with narrow tires, no tread, and travelling fast as they are usually training. One rider told me she flipped her bike after hitting debris in the bike lane. I ride a mountain bike and can usually manage to avoid the debris since I am not riding at high speed, although there are times when I have had to pull over to the white line to avoid slipping in mud or hitting a large piece of debris. This is especially hazardous when a bus or truck that takes up the entire car lane happens to be passing me at the same time.
When I ask Capilano Highway services manager and our local transportation area manager about this, I am told their contract allows just one sweeping per year, unless there is an emergency spill they are called to remove. When I write to the Minister of Transportation and request monthly sweeping, I am told the next contract renewal is in 2013 and she has "asked ministry staff to retain my comments for consideration when renewing maintenance specifications."
The more of us, drivers and cyclists alike, who appeal to the Minister for monthly sweeping in the highways maintenance contract, the sooner cyclists will have no reason to ride outside the bike lane.
Carolann Glover
Roberts Creek
