Cyclists don’t feel safe in Peterborough: Survey

Cyclists in Peterborough don’t feel safe on city streets, according to the results of a recent survey.

The Peterborough Bicycle Advisory Committee’s (PBAC) online survey last fall found that 59 per cent of the 560 respondents perceive that bicycling in Peterborough is not safe for everyone — especially children and seniors.

The survey also discovered that 44 per cent of respondents worry about their personal safety while cycling, citing concerns such as harassment and assault.

“Through the survey, the Peterborough Bicycle Advisory Committee hopes to raise awareness of what needs to be done to make Peterborough more bicycle friendly,” the PBAC stated.

Other key findings included:

• 89 per cent of respondents prefer to have dedicated space for cyclists, such as bike lanes (seven per cent prefer to ride on the sidewalk and four per cent prefer sharing the space with vehicles).
• 26 per cent of respondents report cycling year-round.
• 79 per cent of respondents worry about being hit by a motor vehicle when cycling.
• 94 per cent of respondents are aware of the new Ontario law requiring drivers to provide one metre of space when passing a cyclist.

The top four locations cited for new cycling infrastructure were the downtown, Charlotte Street, Lansdowne Street and east-west routes.

“Interestingly, many people said complete streets or protected bike lanes was their answer to the question about where they would most like to see new infrastructure, which seems to indicate a desire for an overall connected bicycle network that feels safe,” the PBAC stated.

The survey also revealed that 75 per cent of respondents said that there is a trail or bike route they can get to easily from their home.

“This is encouraging because providing connections for bicycles between where people live and where they want to go is key for people wanting to ride their bicycle more,” the PBAC stated.

The survey also discovered that the majority of respondents live in households with two or more vehicles.

Next month, the PBAC, a multi-stakeholder group focused on cycling in the city and county, is planning to survey candidates in this fall’s municipal election on their views of cycling and level of commitment to cycling initiatives.