Myth Busting
Here are some common myths about active transportation you may face, and evidence for confronting them.
Nobody wants to bike: FALSE
Roughly two thirds of people are interested in biking as a mode of transportation, but concerned about safety.
<1% are “Strong and Fearless” - will bike for transportation regardless of conditions.
~7% are “Enthused and Confident” - comfortable riding a bike in most conditions.
~60% are “Interested but Concerned” - interested in riding a bike, but not comfortable biking in mixed traffic.
~33% are “No Way, No How” - No interest in riding a bike, whatsoever
The same survey has been conducted several times across North America finding similar distributions.
Most people would like to bike, but few feel safe enough to try.
… which is why we need more protected bike infrastructure!
Cyclists are not "legitimate" road users: FALSE
Nova Scotia’s Traffic Safety Act includes ordinary use by vehicles or bicycles in its definition of “roadway“.
Bicycles and vehicles are both defined as “conveyances“ in the Traffic Safety Act, and both are required to abide by nearly all of the same rules and regulations of the road.
Bicycles are different from most vehicles, as the Traffic Safety Act also defines them “vulnerable road users“, along side pedestrians, peace officers and construction workers, motorcyclists and tractors. Persons found guilty of offences noted in the Traffic Safety Act are liable for up to twice the fine if any victim is a vulnerable road user.
The Traffic Safety Act recognizes bikes as a mode of transportation rather than just a form of recreation, specifically excluding them from its definition of “recreational apparatus“, which includes scooters and skateboards.
Most municipalities in the province have an active transportation plan that recognizes bikes as transportation. Municipalities without active transportation plans tend to have an integrated community sustainability plan, or municipal planning strategy that recognizes the importance of active transportation and cyclists as critical to achieving not only physical activity guidelines, but climate change mitigation targets.
Legally, the province of Nova Scotia recognizes cyclists as road users, and you should too.
“roadway” means
(a) the part of a highway between the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, the part of a highway that is improved and ordinarily used by vehicles or bicycles, including any paved shoulder or paved area provided for parking and any bicycle lane; ”
If cyclists are road users, they should be licensed. Bikes should be registered just like cars: FALSE
Cars and drivers are registered to keep unsafe vehicles and drivers off the road, not pay for roads. Registration and license fees for cars do not cover the cost of police and by-law officers enforcing them. The fees collected contribute very little to the costs of maintaining existing roads, let alone building new ones.
Licensing cyclists does not make cyclists more lawful. Currently in Nova Scotia, police can and do ticket cyclists for illegal behaviour without the need for cycling licenses.
Registering bikes does not make them safer. Bike registries make it easier to report and track bike thefts, but there is no safety benefit. Bikes are simple and resilient compared to cars, mechanical problems with bikes tend to be more noticeable and typically prevent cyclists from riding unsafe bikes.
Enforcement of cycling licenses and bike registration does not generate enough revenue to break even. Cities have explored cycling licenses and bike registration in the past, but it’s cost prohibitive to operate and difficult to enforce.
Nova Scotia’s Traffic Safety Act does specifically allow municipalities to write by-laws licensing bicycles owned by residents of the municipality, however the costs and barriers cyclist licensing creates outweigh the benefits.
Bike infrastructure is expensive: FALSE
Bike infrastructure is built and maintained at a fraction the cost of roadways.
Sources: TCAT(2019), TIR (2019)
Sources: TIR (2019), TIR (2009) [Adjusted for inflation.]
Implementing bike lanes adds capacity to existing roads at a fraction of the cost of widening or building new roads.
Taxes on drivers pay for roads. Cyclists don't pay for roads: FALSE
Most cyclists are also licensed drivers, many even own cars. Regardless, everyone uses and pays for roads.
While motorists do pay taxes on gasoline, the funds collected go to general revenue, which funds much more than roads. (Infrastructure Canada). Nova Scotia will receive $55,829,000 from federal fuel taxes (Infrastructure Canada) toward its highway capital budget of more than $300 million for 2020-2021 (TIR). Over the past 4 years, the province has contributed over $304 million on top of revenue collected from gas taxes, licensing and registration fees (TIR).
The food you eat, the goods you buy, nearly everything you consume travels by road. A portion of the taxes you pay on goods and services fund the roads used in the process. Everyone uses roads, so everyone pays for roads.