(From Volume 2, Issue 1 of our newsletter, which you can find online here, other newsletters can be found in our newsletter archive)
Bicycle safety – or rather, pedestrian safety around bicycles – is a serious concern. I receive numerous calls from people, particularly seniors, who feel very uncomfortable walking in the Ward because of bicycle traffic on our sidewalks.
A bicycle is considered a vehicle under the Provincial Highway Traffic Act. The City also has a by-law that forbids cycling on the sidewalk if your wheels are larger than 24 inches in diameter. A number of noteworthy violations and set fines listed in the Act are:
The plain truth is: enforcement is difficult. Cyclists should know that they are liable and can be sued when collisions happen and they are at fault. I would ask everyone who rides a bicycle in our community to respect pedestrians and their right to use the sidewalk in comfort. When riding on local streets, cyclists should ride on the road. When riding along our arterial roads, cyclists riding on the sidewalk should go slowly, use their bell or horn to warn pedestrians and remember to share the sidewalk. At intersections, cyclists should always walk across the road.
- Careless driving $ 265
- Disobey stop sign – fail to stop $ 90
- Failure to yield to pedestrian $ 90
- No bell (horn) $ 90
As with any accident, if a pedestrian is hit by a bicycle, they should call the Police immediately and report the incident.
