This activity is based around the Grade 10 Civics curriculum and has really driven home the point about the importance of engaging students in meaningful and dynamic activities. What better way to teach students about civic responsibility than to encourage them to participate in the resolution of a civic issue?
Bike Lanes – Share
the Road
Expectations:
-Compare the varied
beliefs, values, and points of view of Canadian citizens on issues of public
interest. --Analyze Canadian issues or events that involve contrasting
opinions, perspectives, and civic purposes
Issue: The main
issue here is road safety and on taking perspectives as potential future
drivers and as potential cyclists. Although there are Driver education programs
available for those who wish to drive a car, there is little education devoted
to road safety and rules for cyclists, either for drivers or for cyclists
themselves. As Canada becomes more environmentally conscious, it is important
also, to become more conscious of how to safely share the road with cyclists.
Should there be explicit education on road safety? Should there be bike lanes
everywhere?
Sources:
http://www.sharetheroad.ca/
Share the Road is a provincial organization devoted to cycle
safety. The organization was founded by Eleanor McMahon whose husband was
killed by a motorist while riding his bicycle. Through her work with this
organization, McMahon has been successful in her civic action through the
creation of Bill 126, known as “Greg’s Law” in memory of her husband. Below is
a copy of the Share the Road Kingston Bike Summit that took place this year. If
possible, attending a summit like this could make an interesting field trip for
a civics class.
http://www.sharetheroad.ca/files/Full_Bike_Summit_Agenda.pdf
The following link is to the Ontario Ministry of
Transportation website for their guide for cyclists. This guide outlines
certain rules, responsibilities, and consequences for both drivers and
cyclists. I think that this is important for students to know and to research
what the provincial government has to say about cycling as well as to
understand that cyclists have responsibilities as well as rights.
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/cycling-guide/section5.0.shtml
The following link is to an article from the Toronto Star
last week about the introduction of bike lanes to a certain area of Toronto,
the work that went into developing those, and the impact that they are having.
I think that it is important to recognize that, as much as road safety is a
provincial issue; road works and development are municipal issues, so the two
need to work together in order to enact change.
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/06/09/torontos_first_dedicated_bike_lanes_on_sherbourne_start_of_bigger_network.html
Text:
In order to develop their understanding of government in
regards to this issue, students will need to read Unit 2 sections 2.1
Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities, 2.4 Public Policy, and 3.1 Political
Participation of Nelson’s Civics Now, which
can be found on the Trillium List of approved textbooks.
Opinions:
The opinions that can be explored depend on the specific
issue that you want to explore with your class.
For example:
|
Should road safety education be mandatory?
|
yes
|
no
|
Yes, but
|
No,
but
|
|
Should there be bike lanes in all areas of all cities?
|
yes
|
no
|
Yes, but
|
No,
but
|
|
Should drivers and cyclists share the road?
|
yes
|
no
|
Yes, but
|
No,
but
|
|
Should cyclists have to pass a “bicycle driver’s” test?
|
yes
|
no
|
Yes, but
|
No, but
|
In general, there are two opinions about sharing the road;
one is that there should be more bike lanes and that drivers should be more
aware of cycling dangers as well as more conscious about sharing the road.
There is also the opinion that cyclists should be more aware of drivers’ rights
and that the road is “for cars”.
Action:
In order to take action on these road-sharing issues,
students could write letters to city councillors, urban planners, or the MTO
about their opinions, backed up with researched evidence, on road rules and the
creation or abolition of bike lanes. For those who are pro-sharing, they could
hold a bike rally or parade to demonstrate the importance of road safety, road
safety education, and sharing the road. For those who are against road-sharing,
they could hold a protest to make a point about the dangers of sharing the road
and the reasons why it shouldn’t be encouraged. Students could also write
articles for the school paper, or submit letters to the editor of the local
paper regarding these issues.
My position:
As a cyclist and driver, I am pro-road-sharing. That said,
as both a cyclist and a driver, I would appreciate more bike lanes for safety’s
sake. When I drive, I always try to give space to the cyclists because, from my
experience as a cyclist, I know how terrifying it can be to have cars whizzing
past you, especially on a narrow street. However, when I do this, I often need
to change lanes because there is so little room; this opportunity isn’t always
available, and the driving just gets complicated. Bike lanes offer more room to
both the drivers and the cyclists so that everyone can feel safe on the road. Also,
as a child, I remember a police officer coming to our school to teach us about
bike safety and how to put our helmets on properly. That said, I was about 10
years old and I don’t remember much about the actual road rules and safety
tips; I think that it would be beneficial to add road safety education to
driver education programs or to make road safety seminars/information more
readily available.
