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Not so long ago, I wrote about the kindness victim of COVID-19, another potential victim of a relentless pandemic. While the aim of the article was to combat awkward behavior with an antidote to understanding, I was not surprised to receive a lot of posts centered on the example I described.

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I knew that talking about offending a gentleman while he was cycling on the sidewalk with my daughter was likely to provoke anger. And given the strong feedback I have received, perhaps this deserves further discussion.

I have never identified myself as a cyclist. Before the pandemic, the last time I rode my bike was early in the morning to go to college. I didn’t especially like to arrive with helmet hair and sweat stains, so as soon as I could, the city bus became my preferred mode of transportation.

My outlook changed a year ago in April, when the days were long and activities were scarce. Like many parents, I started looking for my own bike in the Canadian Tire catalog, hoping that with time and energy my daughter would finally avoid her training wheels at the age of eight. years, and maybe we could enjoy tandem rides around the neighborhood.

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Soon, frustration set the stage for elation, and my daughter delved into the miracle that is a two-wheeler. We haven’t looked back since. Our loop tours extended over 20 kilometer trips. We uncover hidden trails – and test our limits with trips to Jo Jo’s Creamery and Log Farm Market – where the goodies are even sweeter after an hour’s stay. While family bike rides have saved my mental health, it has also made me realize that there are many cases where our roads are just not conducive to safe cycling.

In some jurisdictions, such as Toronto, children with 24-inch wheels are explicitly allowed to ride on the curb precisely because their imperfect coordination – combined with distracted and widespread driving – is a recipe for a trip to the hospital that ‘no parent wants to consider.

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In Ottawa, without such guidance, parents are forced to decide between enforcing a rule or putting their children at risk. It’s not really a competition.

Don’t get me wrong, when I’m a pedestrian I’m also frustrated if I meet a disrespectful cyclist on the sidewalk. The other day, I almost got hit by a little boy who was about tall, a real Evil Knievel on his little dirt bike. I looked around for his parents, wondering if they would apologize or correct his behavior, but when his dad raced past his own BMX, I didn’t have much hope. I certainly didn’t yell at the child; however, I have thought to gently explain to the parent that this behavior is what motivates so much malice towards families who, in fact, are courteous.

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It shouldn’t be a war of words between pedestrians and children on bikes. It should be a civilized discussion of how we should build cycle lanes that are properly protected by physical medians, so that parents can be confident that their children are safe.

For many families, cycling is a way to promote the physical and mental well-being of their children, while teaching them to interact respectfully with pedestrians. Since when we are in the neighborhood the kind smiles and warm greetings outnumber the angry rants, I think most of our community is supportive of us.

And for those naysayers, until bike lanes are truly safe and ubiquitous, both downtown and the suburbs, we have no choice but to understand something kids learn long before they go. ‘learning to ride a bike: how to share.

Suzanne Westover is Manager of Strategic Communications and Speechwriter for the Mental Health Commission of Canada.