“One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.”
—Martin Luther King Jr.
I have decided not to obey McGill’s new “no biking on campus” policy. Why? Because it was not based on serious research or consultation, no alternatives were considered, and because it is an obstacle to creating a truly sustainable campus. Simply put: McGill got it wrong.
McGill’s principal argument for defending the “no biking” policy is pedestrian safety. The administration argues that there have been a number of accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians, yet, no statistics have been shown. Moreover, these accidents occurred while cars were still allowed on campus. Cyclists and pedestrians behave differently when cars are on the road. Once cars are gone, it is actually easier for the two groups to coexist.
Are pedestrians scared of cyclists? McGill has not told us of any serious research into how pedestrians feel about sharing the road. Professor Jacob T. Levy (School of Urban Planning) has looked into the issue, and concluded that most McGillians feel comfortable sharing the road with cyclists. So is McGill overlooking the facts?
The policy also creates borders between road users that could make it difficult to reintegrate in the future. Some individuals are already starting to believe that cyclists and pedestrians are incompatible, which goes against the best practices and examples of cities around the world.
McGill’s most elaborate counter-argument is: “What’s the big deal? Is it that hard to walk your bike?” This is not a matter of laziness or stubbornness. It is one of coexistence among road-users. It could even be seen as an exercise in campus democracy.
I propose a better policy: “Bike: with respect and care of others.” Biking should be allowed during non-peak hours (which are basically all the time, except during those 20 minutes in which thousands of students walk from one class to another), and at slow speeds. Most cyclists self-regulate: if a road is packed with people, we will walk our bike. If it isn’t, we will continue pedalling with care.
Care is the key word. The McGill administration is scared of reckless cyclists, but the guards are not stopping this problem. An absolute ban even creates an incentive for reckless individuals to push boundaries. Traffic-calming designs, such as those used in cities like Portland, New York, Amsterdam, and Bogota have helped make roads safe for pedestians and cyclists alike. Using McGill’s research capital to find out more about this type of option and helping make cyclists more aware of pedestrians are what will really keep reckless bikers at bay.
Many McGillians (pedestrians, cyclists, students, staff, alumni) as well as urban planners believe this “no-biking” policy will not work in its current form. The way to ensure safety for all users is to actively engage students, staff, and professional research to create a sustainable campus in which intelligent inclusion is the norm.
If you have an opinion about this situation, University Services and the Students Society of McGill University will be having an open forum on the matter next Thursday, September 23rd on SSMU’s 3rd floor from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
You could also email Jim Nicell to let him know you are a caring cyclist that wants and deserves to share the road in a respectful way at [email protected].
Christian Scott Martone is a U3 student in Sociology and International Development Studies, and can be reached at [email protected].
