Bike Month - Stay Safe On The Road

Bike Month: May 27- June 30, 2013

With gas prices going through the roof, local transit getting crowded and more expensive, more and more people are turning to bicycles to get them to work and simply around the city! It’s healthier for the environment, for your pocket book and even for your health! Also, anyone who has driven downtown has seen the bicycle enthusiasts moving faster than the cars stuck in traffic!But with more and more bikes filling our streets and no formal training required to partake in this expanding mode of transportation, bicyclists and drivers alike are in danger of getting into trouble!Bicyclists ride on the road, yet often times they are not aware of the rules of the road which apply to them as well as cars. Yes, the Highway Traffic Act does apply to cyclists. They are often seen mixing car rules with pedestrian rules and sometimes make rules of their own. Running Stop Signs and Red Lights, or becoming a “pedestrian” by making a left turn onto the pedestrian crossing to cross the street.Similarly, some drivers are not aware of the rules of the road for bicyclists, and have to juggle every combination of maneuvers bicyclists will try to do. Will they stop at the Red light? or will they cross in front to get to the other side?Bicyclists, along with motorists, can be charged with a number of offences when they break the rules of the road. Below are just some of the charges a bicyclist can receive.OffenceHTA SectionSet Fine$Improper bicycle lighting62 (17)20.00Improper brakes on a bicycle64 (3)85.00No bell, gong, or horn on a bicycle75 (5)85.00Permit person under 16 years of age, riding without a helmet104 (2.2)60.00Riding in a intersection crosswalk, or pedestrianCrossovers (mid block marked with "X")140 (6)144 (29)85.00Cyclist Failure to signal142 (4)85.00Pass streetcar improperly166 (1)85.00Pass streetcar on left side166 (2)85.00Ride 2 on a bicycle178 (2)85.00Person – attach to vehicle178 (4)35.00Cyclist - fail to stop/ Cyclist - fail to identify self 218 (2)85.00These fines are applicable to all vehicles. This includes both cyclists and motor vehiclesOperate unsafe vehicle84No SetFineCareless driving130400.00 –2,000.00Disobey an officer directing Traffic134 (1)85.00Drive on a closed road134 (3)85.00Disobey Stop Sign - Fail to Stop136 (1)(a)85.00Fail to yield to traffic which has the right of way at anintersection or from a driveway136(1)(b)139(1)85.00Fail to yield at a yield sign138 (1)85.00Unsafe turn movement or lane change142 (1)85.00Red light – Fail to stop144(18)260.00A ticket issued to you on a bicycle will not affect your driving record, but breaking the law can have detrimental affects and pocket book!