I have been seeing a lot of discussions about whether people in Fredericton should be allowed to bike on the sidewalks. The reality of the matter is that there is a perception that biking on the street is unsafe and the city won’t enforce the current bylaws (unless you’re Charles LeBlanc). However, many people are upset at the sheer number of cyclists that just fly by them downtown.

I propose a compromise:

Allow bicycles on sidewalks when the following conditions are met:

• The cyclist must give right-of-way to pedestrians and cars entering/exiting driveways
• When coming up on someone, the cyclist must slow down and pass slowly
• Certain areas (such as downtown) will be walk-your-bike zones and will be signed
• Cyclists must choose either the road or the sidewalk and not weave on and off the road

The police/park patrol must actively enforce the new rules or else there will continue to be resistance to bicycles on the sidewalk

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