Just a heads-up on this announcement I received from cyclometer@toronto.ca. It amazes me that the police would choose a week during bike month to blitz riders. The announcement reads as follows:
The 'Safe Cycling ? Share the Responsibility' Police Campaign starts
June 16, 2008
The annual police enforcement campaign for Toronto cyclists begins
officially on Monday, June 16.
Police will be enforcing Highway Traffic Act violations such as No bell
($110), Failure to Stop/Stop Sign ($110), red light ($180), No front
light/rear light beginning a half hour before sunset, Sidewalk riding,
Unsafe lane change, failure to signal, and others, and encouraging
proper safety equipment for all wheeled road users. Conviction can result
in points on a driver's licence in addition to the fines. The campaign,
also known as 'Bike and Wheel Sport Safety', lasts for one week.
Cyclists are advised to consider carefully the rules of the road and
the Highway Traffic Act as it applies to them before setting off.
cyclocommuter
06-15-08, 02:37 PM
Thanks for the heads up...
cyberpep
06-16-08, 07:49 AM
Conviction can result
in points on a driver's licence in addition to the fines.
I have seen this discussed before and have even talked about it with a couple of friends who are local policemen that I play hockey with. It is my impression that when you are being ticketed on your bicycle that they need you to provide ID. This can take many forms such as even a piece of mail addressed to you. They tell me that I am not required to and should not provide the officer with your drivers licence as ID. They will note your licence number and that is when you may start to have problems with your driving record and/or insurance.
Remember you are not required to have a drivers licence to operate a bicycle therefore I would not just willingly provide them with that information. They will ask for ID and maybe even suggest that your drivers licence will work but it is not required that you must provide the drivers licence.
Maybe others with more information on this can provide some help before the situation arises.
Leo1903
06-17-08, 05:23 PM
I just received a revision to the previous announcement from Cyclometer, regarding the Highway Traffic act as it applies to bikes. Nevertheless it's probably wise (as suggested bycyberpep), to not willingly provide the police with your drivers licence information. The revision read as follows:
Correction: The June issue of Cyclometer contains incorrect information about the Highway Traffic Act as it applies to bicycles. We apologize for the error. Please note of the following correction:
The HTA defines bicycles are defined as vehicles. As vehicle operators, cyclists are subject to most of the same HTA requirements as drivers of motor vehicles. However, there are some important differences. The application of demerit points is an important difference.
According the the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, "the demerit point system only applies to certain offenses committed in a motor vehicle. However, I understand that on rare occasions demerit points are in error assigned to the driving record of an individual for an offense committed on a bicycle. When the Ministry of Transportation is notified of such occurrences, the error is immediately corrected." (1993 letter from Ontario Minister of Transportation to the Chair of the Toronto Cycling Committee)
We continue to hear that cyclists are being charged with demerit points in error. If you are being given a summons by a police officer ask them to clearly indicate that the "vehicle type" is "bicycle" on the Provincial Offenses Notice. If the notice is submitted to the Ministry of Transportation without a bicycle being indicated then it could be mistakenly coded as a motor vehicle offense.
Note: Some of the fines listed in Cyclometer were also incorrect. The fine for running a red light on a bike or motor vehicle is $190. Bikes are required to have a front light and a rear reflector beginning a half hour before sunset until a half hour after sunrise.
For more information on the fines for cycling offenses Visit http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/pdf/hta.pdf
kamalster
06-17-08, 07:11 PM
Just a heads-up on this announcement I received from cyclometer@toronto.ca. It amazes me that the police would choose a week during bike month to blitz riders. The announcement reads as follows:
I think that makes sense. Bike month is about raising awareness of bicycling, isn't it? That also includes raising awareness of the rules of the road and the relevant parts of the HTA for cyclists.
kamalster
06-17-08, 07:14 PM
Thanks for the heads up, btw. Time to get a bell and put it on my bikes (at least temporarily).
ISaacG
06-18-08, 08:12 AM
A Toronto Star Article (http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/445155) mentions the blitz:
On Monday, Toronto police began a week-long campaign to corral motorists and cyclists endangering others.
The blitz is focusing on drivers who make unsafe turns, open car doors without looking or steer into bike lanes. Unruly cyclists are also being held to account.
epicure
06-24-08, 12:21 PM
Yeah, heads up around Urbane Cyclist. The police have been setting up right across from urbane ticketing cyclists during the morning and evening commutes. Ticketing people for not stopping fully for a stop sign or indicating their turn on a quiet side street is a waste of taxpayers money when a block down on Queen street there's all sorts of extremely dangerous driving and riding going on. It's just such a blatant cash grab that it destroys any tiny shred of credibility the city's law enforcement previously might have had.
Turd Ferguson
06-24-08, 03:23 PM
Why I don't understand is why they bother to announce it. Just do your f*%*ing job and stop with the PR BS.
It's like saying - we will do our job this week, next week it's back to donuts.
Leo1903
06-24-08, 06:40 PM
Now epicure, would those be cops on bikes set up around Urbane or other? Just curious.
Personally, I think it's wrong to blitz riders during bike week/month. It's an attempt to stifle the tiniest spark of interest someone may have to get their old bike out of storage and give it a shot. Upon hearing of the police crackdown, the prospective cyclist realizing that his bike is deficient, even in the smallest degree, may shy away and continue in his habitual pattern of taking his car.
I say give them a months grace to get their bike up to standard and then start nailing them if they have nothing else better to do.
epicure
06-25-08, 10:33 AM
Leo, I've seen both bike cops, cruisers, and a mix of both over the course of the last week and a half. I'm not at home all day, but I noticed them in front of my apartment at least 4 times. I'm fairly certain that it won't happen any more for a while as I haven't seen them in a few days and this article in the star (http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/449111) implies that the blitz is over, having annoyed a huge percentage of Toronto's cyclists while ticketing a tiny fraction of the city's offending motorists.
IronMac
06-25-08, 02:25 PM
It's an attempt to stifle the tiniest spark of interest someone may have to get their old bike out of storage and give it a shot. Upon hearing of the police crackdown, the prospective cyclist realizing that his bike is deficient, even in the smallest degree, may shy away and continue in his habitual pattern of taking his car.
First off, I very much doubt that this is any sort of deliberate attempt to stifle interest in bicycling.
Second, anyone who is serious enough to get their bike out should be willing to put on a couple of reflectors or a cheapo light. A tank of gas is pretty expensive these days.
IronMac
06-25-08, 02:27 PM
I'm fairly certain that it won't happen any more for a while as I haven't seen them in a few days and this article in the star (http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/449111) implies that the blitz is over, having annoyed a huge percentage of Toronto's cyclists while ticketing a tiny fraction of the city's offending motorists.
You know that this campaign is about "Safe Cycling" right? All of the tickets are geared towards that issue.
I'm pretty sure that a lot of tickets were given out for other offenses that are unrelated to cycling and, therefore, not counted in the article.
epicure
06-26-08, 10:07 AM
I'm well aware. I wasn't trying to bring non-cycling related offences into the discussion. I was merely making a point regarding my personal experience of watching the Police ticket cyclists for minor infractions as it relates to the statistics mentioned in the article (cyclists receiving only slightly fewer tickets than drivers). Go to bat for the TPS if you feel they deserve your support, but I can't get behind them.
IronMac
06-27-08, 05:09 AM
The only point you're making is your bias.
epicure
06-27-08, 10:04 AM
I suppose you're correct. I'll refrain from having an opinion from here on out.
IronMac
06-27-08, 03:03 PM
I apologize for being harsh and judgemental.
IronMac
06-27-08, 03:16 PM
Too much talking, not enuf riding! :)
mkadam68
06-27-08, 03:27 PM
Time to get a bell and put it on my bikes (at least temporarily).
I saw that too. Just out of curiosity, does the law require a bell? Down here (in SoCal), it only requires a noise-making device or some-such. Loud yells fulfill that part of the law. Or so I'm told.
ISaacG
06-29-08, 09:20 AM
I saw that too. Just out of curiosity, does the law require a bell? Down here (in SoCal), it only requires a noise-making device or some-such. Loud yells fulfill that part of the law. Or so I'm told.
Well, you can get hit for a $105 fine last time I checked for not having a bell. An airhorn should be OK. But if they can fine you for not having something, I doubt you can get away with saying you got "a loud yell".