Driving around Collingwood and the surrounding area it is almost impossible to miss the growing number of cyclists taking advantage of the tremendous bike riding opportunities the region provides. The current issue of On The Bay magazine has an extensive cover story on the cycling craze taking place in our area. We are blessed with not only some great scenery and roads for cyclists to enjoy but with amenities such as the Georgian Trail and the growing network of trails here in Collingwood the rides are not only enjoyable but also safe.
I am a reasonably avid cyclist, not a fanatic mind you but I do like both the exercise as well as the solitude cycling provides. Riding on a busy thoroughfare for me is not much fun and bike lanes are very much welcomed and appreciated. A large portion of Highway 6 traversing Manitoulin Island where I have a cottage was re-surfaced in 2011 and a bike lane was added making cycling this summer a much more pleasant experience. Cars in and around Collingwood are sporting an increasing number of “Share The Road” stickers. Obviously, cyclists and car drivers need to maintain a co-operative spirit with respect to using area roadways in a safe and responsible manner especially in areas where bike lanes are not present.
Recently I followed two cyclists in the accompanying photo along the Clarksburg Side Road that seemingly don’t have a grasp re: the concept of sharing. They rode two abreast in an almost defiant manner for the 2 or 3 km I was behind them, forcing cars into oncoming lanes in order to get by. These were not kids but adults. Such behaviour gives the cycling community a bad wrap. For more on safe cycling visit the Share The Road website.