Letter: Grey Road 1 Has Become a Dangerous Section of Popular Cycling Loop
Letter: Grey Road 1 Has Become a Dangerous Section of Popular Cycling Loop
Lloyd Lewis shares his recent cycling experience and challenges the County to install bike lanes on much-publicized bike route.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
On a recent Sunday at 10 am, a total of 32 cars overtook me as I cycled along Grey Road 1, between East Linton and the Eddie Sargent Parkway.
I was surprised by how heavy the traffic was, but it also reminded me how poor the road conditions are and how potentially dangerous this section of the County road has become.
This 6 km section of the road not only doesn’t have a hard shoulder for cyclists but in many places, the outside of the road is cracked and buckled, making it challenging to ride.
We cyclists roll the dice on safety, knowing a vehicle is approaching from behind, especially when another car is barreling down in the opposite direction. Will the driver from behind be patient enough to wait, or will they try to squeeze through the narrow gap, forcing you off the road – or much much worse?
Grey Road 1 is a popular cycle route. In fact, it’s part of a much-publicized bike loop that takes in the islands off Big Bay. However, unlike the rest of the loop, it is far more dangerous.
So, I ask the question, which has been asked many times before: When will the County take responsibility to repair this section of the road and put in a bike lane? Hopefully, it won’t take a serious accident before action is taken.
Sincerely,
Lloyd Lewis
Letters to the Editor do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of The Owen Sound Current and its editor or publisher.
It has been very encouraging to see Grey County include paved shoulders for cycling when it does a road repavent project, but Lloyd Lewis is absolutely right to identify this section of Grey Road 1 as a priority for safe cycle lanes.
Grey road 1 is a mess. Our cycling group frequents this stretch of road often to get up to Balmy Beach road. This is a very busy stretch of roadway along the west side of the Sound. I fear that someone will get seriously injured. According to the law, a vehicle must give cyclists one metre when passing, however when the outside roadway is as bad as shown in Mr. Lewis's article, cyclists are forced to encroach further into the roadway and cars therefore must also move further into the opposite lane, this can only end in disaster.