In two weeks I’ll be participating in the MS Bike Tour – Grand Bend to London.
The route is different this year, with a new endpoint in London. I like to practice the start of Day 2 to get a feel for what my tired legs and bum will need to do.
I checked out the route and saw a roughly 4 km stretch on Clarke Rd. It is a section of road Michel and his Randonneuring friends have been on. They decided the speed and volume of traffic without a shoulder means their routes that include that section are getting redesigned.
I was very worried for my safety. I thought about how many riders would be going along there. I thought of folks less comfortable on their bikes or in traffic than me.
I checked in with my Randonneuring friends who also design routes for the London Cycling Club. They recommended police with road closures or avoiding the section altogether.
Bolstered by my friends’ agreement with my assessment, I reached out to the ride organizer.
I was worried I was needlessly nervous but when other confident and experienced riders agreed I decided to risk looking silly.
A week passed. Then I got a reply. The organizer thanked me and said they consulted with the city and police. They modified the last couple kilometers of Day 1. I had offered some suggestions and they had come up with a plan that included police support and limiting time on Clarke Rd.
I was worried it was too late. That I would be dismissed or, worst, ignored.
None of that happened. I knew speaking up was the right thing. I’m glad my voice made a difference.
The new end of the route:
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