From Derek at BlogTO as a response to Sgt. Tim Burrow's Top 10 list of driver complaints. (BlogTO is good at these lists):

10 - The close pass

9 - Lack of bike lanes

8 - Cars parked in bike lanes

7 - Potholes

Yes, potholes, but also utility cuts, which in some way are even more irritating. A utility cut can create a wide, sharp drop from which you can't easily escape; or the cut can run below you for blocks creating the roller coaster, or "mutton bustin" (sheep riding), effect - also unavoidable.

6 - Winter

5 - Other cyclists

4 - Car doors

3 - Streetcar tracks

Derek suggests the bunny hop, but that's a bad idea. CAN-BIKE recommends taking the tracks as close to 90 degrees as possible - slow down and cross the tracks at a sharp angle.

2 - Oblivious pedestrians

1 - Sudden right turns (without signaling)

This is Derek's key complaint, and though it is rarer than the others, it's a biggie. I agree, complete disregard for a life. A more minor but related complaint is the right turn from the left of cyclists at red lights - you wouldn't do that with a car so why do you think it's okay with a bike?

Honourable mentions: jerks who bypass the line of cyclists at red lights, slow e-bikes that need to be passed (but that can be nice to draft!), riding north from downtown (it's all uphill), and the constant threat of bike theft.

Derek misses: high speed cars; speeding semis, dump trucks, and cement trucks barreling down small downtown streets.

Another video from riconroy, this one a helpful guide for drivers, aiding them in "surviving" city driving and avoiding nasty cyclists and pedestrians.

Driving in the city is a treacherous endeavour, full of difficulty and inconvenience. For anyone who hasn't driven in the city before the rules of the road must seem a bit confusing. Here are some tips to help you survive your drive.

Title: Driver Survival Guide

Need to pop into a store, buy a coffee, mail a letter, deliver a package? Use the handy bike lanes located on many of our streets. Perfect for a quick errand and it keeps the real lanes clear for traffic.

Pedestrians often get in the way when you least expect them. If you see one trying to cross the road it's best to speed up so you can quickly get out of their way.

Stop signs waste valuable time on your journey and reportedly increase pollution. We recommend rolling right through them as fast as the road conditions will allow.

Speed limits are guidelines only. Even the police will accept you going twenty clicks over the limit. Why do they cars so darn fast and then ask you to stick to fifty kilometres per hour?

If you don't drive assertively when there are cyclists on the road there will be confusion as to who has the right to be there. Pass a cyclist as close as possible to claim your space and reduce collisions with other cars.

With these tips in mind driving in the city will make much more sense, economically and emotionally.

I'm sad to report that another cyclist has been killed on the streets on Mississauga. From the few details provided by the police and media, it sounds like the cyclist was riding westbound on Bloor St. at Riverspray Cres. (Between Tomken and Dixie), when he was struck from behind by two motor vehicles.

Still not too many details available, but Peel Regional Police are looking for more witnesses. Here's the text from the Police press release:

Peel Police - Motor Vehicle Collision – Cyclist Struck
November 25, 2009

Mississauga – Investigators from the Peel Regional Police Major Collision Bureau are appealing for witnesses to come forward, as they investigate the circumstances surrounding a motor vehicle collision that has claimed the life of a Mississauga man.

On Tuesday, November 25, 2009, at approximately 6:38 p.m., a cyclist was riding his bicycle westbound along Bloor Street near Riverspray Crescent. For reasons still under investigation, the cyclist turned into the pathway of a green, 2001 Mazda Protégé, which was also travelling westbound. The cyclist was knocked off his bike and was struck by a brown, 2008 Buick Allure, which was also travelling westbound.

As a result of the accident, the victim, a 45 year-old Mississauga man, was fatally injured and died at the scene. The drivers of the motor vehicles were uninjured.

The victim’s identity is not being released at this time.

Investigators are urging anyone who may have witnessed to the collision, or may have information on the matter, to come forward.

The investigation is continuing by members of the Major Collision Bureau. Anyone with information is asked to contact officers at (905) 453-2121, ext 3710. Information can also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by visiting the website www.peelcrimestoppers.ca or by texting “PEEL”, followed by your tip, to CRIMES (274637).

For media inquiries, please contact the on-duty Media Relations Officer at (905) 453-2121, ext. 4027.

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