I have been bicycling for 45 years, and am one of those cyclists who does not use designated bike lanes if at all possible.
Bicycling on the Saanich Peninsula, I prefer using the six-foot-wide shoulder of the Pat Bay Highway. In the various communities, I prefer using the same road as vehicles because road debris accumulates in curb lanes. I feel safer because I follow the rules outlined in B.C.'s traffic laws, which, by the way, also apply to cyclists. Defensive riding is my motto.
On narrower roadways, I stay close to the curb lane, and if I may be impeding traffic (utilize mirror on handle bar), I will signal with my left arm in a circular motion that the driver should proceed to pass. One must be very aware of vehicles' behaviour. I frequently use the McTavish Roundabout and have no issues as long as I pay close attention and bike as fast as possible.
Today, I spoke to a fellow bicyclist who also wondered why the person crossing Pat Bay Highway at Mt. Newton needed to use the pedestrian overpass. It is so much easier to ease into the eastbound or westbound inside lane to proceed as is appropriate for the traffic lights. When traffic is stopped at a traffic light, I occupy the space in the appropriate lane – vehicles recognize my action (don't get excited, nor honk horns).
I believe that persons using designated bike/pedestrian lanes are overconfident of what they may do when using or don't care about others! The problem I encounter is people using personal communication devices, not paying attention to any other path user.
It is too bad that Victoria Bike to Work Week discontinued their one-day bicycling course – I took it 15 years ago to reacquaint myself with B.C.'s rules of the road and how to safely navigate downtown Victoria's one-way multi-lane roadways.
Hugh MacCallum
North Saanich
