As the start of the school year approaches, school crossing guard unions are denouncing “the dangerous and reckless driving of several cyclists,” who ride on sidewalks, go the wrong way or at excessive speed and who demonstrate “flagrant disregard for road signs.”
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), affiliated with the FTQ, represents 1,800 school crossing guards throughout Quebec, particularly in Quebec City and Montreal.
The unions say they are “very concerned” for the safety of the crossing guards and schoolchildren given the “misconduct of many cyclists.”
In an interview on Thursday, Lucille Dignard, vice-president of the Quebec City crossing guards’ union, reported cases of cyclists who zigzag between schoolchildren crossing the street, ride on the sidewalks and disobey road signs.
“It happened quite regularly that I was passed around (by cyclists). I had one behind me, one in front, and then if I moved even the slightest bit, well I got hit and the children too,” said Dignard.
Some cyclists even verbally attack school crossing guards who call them to order.
“I was harassed a few times and told I was an obstacle to cyclists. Others get yelled at. I have a gentleman who, at one point, found himself with three cyclists around him, there was a crossing guard who told me about it, and, really, the cyclists attacked him. He had to explain the situation, the rules. Often, we have to be careful and keep a low profile,” explained Dignard.
She assures that she has nothing against cyclists, but says they must respect children, crossing guards and road safety rules.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews