Advocacy & Safety - Vancouver Police Cracking Down on Cyclists

FYI for any Vancouver BC riders:

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Dozens of cyclists, one after the other, ignoring the stop sign and just pedalling on their merry way. Not an uncommon site in Vancouver but starting today, those on two wheels who ignore traffic laws will not be ignored by police.

Right now, it's just warning tickets, however Vancouver Police are at Union and Hawks Street, a popular cycling route, where the rules of the road seem to be ignored more often than not.

News1130 spoke with people in the area who say they're sick of it. "There is no law, they can do anything they want to."

This man says he has seen so many bad examples on two wheels. "Older women just about getting hit. Bicyclists giving the finger, yelling at older people trying to cross the street."

Police say cyclists are vulnerable and need someone looking out for them. This campaign, in conjunction with June's Bike Safety Month, is looking out for those who need to be saved from themselves.

See the original story HERE (http://www.news1130.com/news/local/more.jsp?content=20090529_134643_8188)

I've got to think that the cops have better things to do with their time, what with Vancouver's raging gang violence, and billion-dollar drug trade. Hell, I'd be happy if they could keep motorcycles off the bicycle paths!

Obviously the cops got involved because someone complained about bad cyclists. Perhaps Vancouver riders should email the Vancouver police service, and complain about some of the bad things that we se other road users do on a daily basis!

[sarcasm]OMG! If I don't obey traffic laws I might get a ticket!![\sarcasm]

There was a similar outing by the police near the Burrard Street Bridge just about a week ago.

I emailed the police and asked if theis was a precursor to getting real tickets during Bike Month.

I've received no response so far.

[sarcasm]OMG! If I don't obey traffic laws I might get a ticket!![\sarcasm]

yeah, well, I'll start calling it fair when they start ticketing drivers for their offences as well.

Find out where the cops will be and video all the motorist breaking the law while the cops have a cyclist stopped. And then compare how many cyclist v motorist got tickets.

Have some photos as well and see if the paper will run that story.

All you need to do is watch any stop sign, and see if ANY car stops at the white line.

Toronto PD also usually has a one-week bike safety blitz around this time of the year.

Even camped out at T-intersection stop signs on signed bike routes, they still end up ticketing more cars than bikes.

Here are the front and back of the tickets handed out - Note the, "It's your lucky day" note on the back. Lucky, as in it's awareness, not an actual fine

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3377/3577694404_36e912a1ce_b.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3377/3576893089_3883f9e6c2_b.jpg

Why not just give a real ticket to the stop sign runners?
Why not just stop at the signs and lights?

A story on CBC about the campaign shows some inconsistencies in the fine amounts compared to the tickets that were handed out.

And also, the last 2 days, I rode ride beside and next to police without my helmet. One pair were riding ATV's and today, it was a pair of bike cops. Both days each pair of policemen said nothing about my lack of helmet.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/05/29/bc-bicycle-safety-campaign.html

Police campaign targets careless cyclists in Vancouver

Some bicycle riders not thrilled about warnings during bike month

Vancouver police are introducing an information campaign to educate bicyclists about the dos and don'ts when they head out onto the roads.

The Cycling Safety Ticketing Campaign begins with traffic police officers patrolling the streets and warning cyclists about traffic offences such as not obeying a stop sign and not wearing a helmet.

"It really is important to understand that most cyclists that are injured on the highways and on the cycle paths have no contact with another vehicle," said Sgt. Paul Ballard of the Vancouver Police Department's traffic section.

"It's falls, it's spills, it's avoiding some kind of a hazard where the cyclist goes down," he said Friday. "And a head injury is very likely to result just by the nature of that type of an accident."

Police are calling the first stage of the campaign an "education period," during which verbal warnings will be given instead of traffic tickets.

Beginning in July, however, police officers will vigilantly hand out tickets for cycling offences to people who don't obey the laws, Ballard said.

"The fines range from $29 under the Motor Vehicle Act for not wearing a helmet to $109 for most of the other operational offences," he said.

Cyclists who fail to stop at a stop sign, run a red light or fail to yield to pedestrians will be fined $167, he said.

If a police officer concludes that a cyclist rides a bicycle "without due care," the cyclist will get a ticket with a $195 fine.

Traffic officers started their first patrol Friday in parts of the Adanac Bikeway on the northeast side of the city. It's a 5.5-kilometre route connecting downtown Vancouver and False Creek through Union Street and Adanac Street, according to the city of Vancouver website.

The Adanac is the most-used commuter bikeway in the city with an average of 900 cyclists per day, the website says.

Dean Chan, who lives in the Strathcona neighbourhood along a section of the bikeway, said Friday that many cyclists seem to ignore the safety of pedestrians.

"When you walk your dog or walk yourself or [when I] push my boy in the stroller, you have to be pretty careful," Chan said.

"They [cyclists] rule the route and they have right of way regardless of the stop signs and you better get out of the way."

Isabell Mayer, another Strathcona resident, said it is "terrible" there.

"There's not one [cyclist] that even looks one way or the other, you know, [they go] just right through," Mayer told CBC News.

Lorraine Chisholm, a frequent cyclist on the bikeway, said she's not thrilled about the police information campaign.

"I just find it quite astonishing that they would be giving people warnings around this particular stop sign when that stop sign shouldn't be there. It's on a bike route," she said.

Cyclist Tim Cheffins was pulled over by police Friday afternoon for blowing through that stop sign.

"They are there to, like, let you know that the other people have the right of way, so you just sort of wing it," Cheffins said.

Lisa Slakov with the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition said she's stunned the police campaign is happening in June, which is bike month in the city and some other parts of the province.

She said police instead should target the cyclists' worst enemy — bad car drivers.

"I know so many people who do not bicycle because they simply consider it really unsafe on the streets in the city," Slakov said.

"Ride while not astride seat"?

What does that even mean?

Messengers are going to loooooove this.:rolleyes:

"Ride while not astride seat"?

What does that even mean?
It means the seat has to be in between your legs, ie. you have to have one leg on either side of your bike.

It means the seat has to be in between your legs, ie. you have to have one leg on either side of your bike.

AKA, "side saddle"

I noticed some more coverage and what I'm not getting is that in the broadcast, the police say the helmet fine is $29, but on the ticket, it says $109. There are also other fines that run above $109 like $167 for failing to yield to pedestrians or running a stop sign.

http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090529/bc_bike_fines_090529/20090529/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome

Also you may notice it seems this campaign seems to be taking place at or near bike paths. I guess it's an easy place to pull over bikers.

I also noticed riders doing rolling stops at an intersection that was clear and a run through a red that was at the top of a "T" intersection with no possibility for conflict. These are quite benign and in a different league than doing something like Joey does.

Are they ticketing everyone who doesnt put a foot down, or just those who fail to slow (to say walking speed) and yield?


yeah, well, I'll start calling it fair when they start ticketing drivers for their offences as well.

Um, they do, even if very occasionally.

find out where the cops will be and video all the motorist breaking the law while the cops have a cyclist stopped. And then compare how many cyclist v motorist got tickets.

Have some photos as well and see if the paper will run that story.

+1000

Why should we be surprised? With sales tax revenue down everywhere, (and down big in some places- California says their sales tax revenue is off 50% year over year in April! Yipes!) traffic enforcement is a way to raise revenue fast.

Are they ticketing everyone who doesnt put a foot down, or just those who fail to slow (to say walking speed) and yield?

check out the video in the preceding post




Um, they do, even if very occasionally.

I don't think I've ever seen a motorist drive under the speed limit and I can't remember the last time I saw a motorist stop at a stop line.

"Dozens of cyclists, one after the other, ignoring the stop sign and just pedalling on their merry way. Not an uncommon site in Vancouver but starting today, those on two wheels who ignore traffic laws will not be ignored by police."

I wonder if those motorists who ignore traffic laws will continue to be ignored by police. As the police are waiting for cyclists to violate a traffic law will they give a pass to every motorist who executes a right hook or a ridiculously close pass? Or how about the motorists who roll the stop sign. There was a video online from portland not long ago from a guy taping cyclists rolling through a stop sign. While the guy with the camera is complaing about cyclists not stopping, 2 or 3 cars roll the stop sign and he goes on to claim that only bikes disobey the sign.

Stuff like this drives me nuts, not because cyclists shouldn't have to obey the rules of the road, but because they are selecting the most vulnerable of road users for enforcement of the most benign of violations instead of going after cars and trucks whose actions can and do kill cyclists.

I heard a police scanner call last night that illustrates that point.
It was a complaint of bicyclists riding in the road, which made it hard for cars to pass, The complaint went on to say that the bikes were not using the bike path. So here in Wisconsin the police get called out for cyclists riding in the road instead of the bike path, (cyclists are not required to ride on bike paths here), but when I show them videos of cars buzzing me, running stop signs in front of me, and turning in front of me, they often tell me to get off the road. Who can we get to cite officers who ignore the rights of cyclists?

Keep up the good work officers.

"When you walk your dog or walk yourself or [when I] push my boy in the stroller, you have to be pretty careful," Chan said.

Duh!! So get the bikes out of there so I can stagger around the path while I carelessly push my stroller or walk my dog.

according to a radio poll

http://www.news1130.com/poll/?p=1&id=1957

89% of the people feel cyclists get away with too much

Based on my experience, 100% of motorists get away with too much

what with Vancouver's raging gang violence, and billion-dollar drug trade.

Is it really so bad? I thought Vancouver was an incredibly lovely city when I visited last year.

We've always had a roaring drug trade. Not only do we have world famous BC Bud, we often exchange it for Mexican cocaine and American guns. We also have a great connection with Asia's crime syndicate.

We also have Canada's poorest neighborhood and the most extensive homelessness problem in the country.

It is a lovely city even with this considered but I think the point is, there are more pressing concerns for police lately particularily when there's a turf war going on in the drug trade. Targeted killings have been rampant lately.

I don't think I've ever seen a motorist drive under the speed limit and I can't remember the last time I saw a motorist stop at a stop line.

At least where I live (suburban, meaning longer sightlines), the presence of a cop causes nearly every driver to suddenly drive like an angel; personally, if you don't notice police standing at the curb before running a sign or light, you need to slow down more.

The people who get tickets (drivers) tend to be the ones who don't see the cops, and that's fair game.

There was a similar outing by the police near the Burrard Street Bridge just about a week ago.

I emailed the police and asked if theis was a precursor to getting real tickets during Bike Month.

I've received no response so far.

I received my reply.

It said,

[quote=VPD**June is bicycle safety month and we are using this month to educate cyclists using the roadways.

In regards to enforcement, we use discretion.[/quote]

Hopefully, discretion means there will be no crackdown

At least where I live (suburban, meaning longer sightlines), the presence of a cop causes nearly every driver to suddenly drive like an angel; personally, if you don't notice police standing at the curb before running a sign or light, you need to slow down more.

The people who get tickets (drivers) tend to be the ones who don't see the cops, and that's fair game.

It would be good to see police help cyclists during Bike Month by ticketing drivers committing the common offences by drivers.

Passing at unsafe distance, left hook, right hook, failure to yeild right of way are the most common causes of car/bike collisions.

http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090529/bc_bike_fines_090529/20090529/?hub=BritishColumbiaHomeI loved the statement by the cop to the cyclist "The normal fine is $167 under the MOTOR vehicle act".

Yup. Operating a bicycle on the streets requires following the rules set forth in the Motor Vehicle Act

I've only been riding my trike for 3yrs, but have found that if I respect the other drivers around me I have no trouble. Although, as I ride a trike I try to follow the rules of the road, stopping at stop signs, waiting for people in the crosswalks, and making eye contact is very important. I might be lower and slower but I'm cautious.

"...Bicyclists giving the finger, yelling at older people trying to cross the street."

Were they crossing in a crosswalk? Did they look both ways before crossing? I live in a city where NO ONE on a bicycle stops for stop signs or red lights yet I have no trouble crossing a street on foot - legally or illegally. I simply LOOK - both ways - then cross when the coast is clear REGARDLESS of traffic control devices.


"There is no law, they can do anything they want to."

Jeezus. I have apparently ruined Canada too!

Ride on my northern brothers and sisters! Tell that old hag to get her arse in the crosswalk!

It would be good to see police help cyclists during Bike Month by ticketing drivers committing the common offences by drivers.

Passing at unsafe distance, left hook, right hook, failure to yeild right of way are the most common causes of car/bike collisions.

Sure, but it's way harder to witness/catch drivers doing these than cyclists rolling a stop.

Like WTF, being ticketed for standing up while pedaling uphill????

Personally, I'm sick of bicyclists' running red lights and riding against traffic. If the law wishes to step in and issue warning-tickets (followed by reasonable fines), hoo-freakin'-ray.

Jeezus. I have apparently ruined Canada too!

Ride on my northern brothers and sisters! Tell that old hag to get her arse in the crosswalk!

Hey Joey, check out the video of the cops pulling over these "bad asses"
http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090529/bc_bike_fines_090529/20090529/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome

Looks pretty "dangerous", don't you think?

Hey Joey, check out the video of the cops pulling over these "bad asses"
http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090529/bc_bike_fines_090529/20090529/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome

Looks pretty "dangerous", don't you think?

I wonder if traffic accidents involving bicycles would increase if every cyclist stopped at all the signals and stop signs. Logic would tell me that more cyclists would be doored for sure if they are denied the ability to ride the gaps between traffic and must leave a green light squeezed between the moving cars and the parked ones. Maybe more close calls and brushed cyclists too? Hard to get statistics on "near" misses.

Yeah, that was a dangerous bunch for sure. Really scary without helmets too. ;)

$170 fine for not stopping at a stop sign!? Holy cripes! What is it for a motorist when they do not stop at a stop sign, half of that?

...Yeah, that was a dangerous bunch for sure. Really scary without helmets too. ;)

Cops making easy pulls on timid riders out of the way of traffic.

I'd like to see them try to pull over a courier or two in heavy traffic.

$170 fine for not stopping at a stop sign!? Holy cripes! What is it for a motorist when they do not stop at a stop sign, half of that?

It's the same, $167.

Failure to wear a seat belt is $167 too while failure to wear a helmet costs a cyclists only $29! Not wear a helmet while on a motorcycle is a $138 fine.

I love how in the video they state for the month of June they will only issue warning, but atarting July 1 they will start issueing fines. I wonder if this is more for show, meaning because June is bike month in Canada the cops are out in force, but come July once it is all over with they won't be. I also wonder how much this is costing the pd in resources. I am not saying cyclists should not follow the traffic laws, we should. But compare our violations, and I am guilty of it too, to motorists. I bet motor vehicle violations are a lot higher.

I've only been riding my trike for 3yrs, but have found that if I respect the other drivers around me I have no trouble. Although, as I ride a trike I try to follow the rules of the road, stopping at stop signs, waiting for people in the crosswalks, and making eye contact is very important. I might be lower and slower but I'm cautious.

:thumb:I can't say that I've always been as conscientious about following the rules of the road as you but there does seem to be a correlation between respect for others and the respect I get in return.

Beautiful pics by the way.

Anyone know of a ratio of motorist traffic violations to cyclist traffic violations? If you do know of one please make it apples to apples, like running stop signs, etc. If not an overall violation ratio will probably be fine.

Traffic tickets are pretty much non-existant except for the odd "blitz" now and again.

I have no solid informaton on this (after all, what authority is going to admit that road users get away with murder on a regular basis?) but it's a fairly safe bet to say that however infrequently they're handed out when they are handed out, drivers are ticketed far more than cyclists

Does ANYONE know the logic behind the "Standing up" fine?
$109 for standing up when going uphill makes no sense to me.
I have friends who ride fixed/single speed bikes that will be getting screwed by this foolishness (If caught).

I haven't confimed this, but I'm 99% certain "standing up" doesn't refer to standing on the pedals but standing on the bike, as in, one foot on the seat and one foot on the handlebars (or 2 feet on either).

http://www.aljazeerah.info/News%20photo%20negatives/2004%20phot%20originals/July/P10040706-1.JPG

I wonder if this means doing a handstand on the bike is legal?
http://www.mycyclingsource.com/images/275_hand-stand-on-handlebars-crash.jpg

Messengers are going to loooooove this.:rolleyes:


So what? I was run down while crossing the street in a crosswalk with the cross signal in Copley Square in Boston, by a bicycle messenger who blew through a red light while trying to beat cross traffic. He was way late and was easily doinig 20+ mph when he hit me. I had to get stitches in my leg and my knee was so bruised I couldn't bend it all the way for a few days.

I have a friend who lived in Brighton, MA for awhile and his wife was run down in a similar manner. At least if it was a car they were driving there would have had auto insurance that would have paid the hospital bills instead of the victims getting stuck with the co-pay and deductible against their health insurance.

I was run down while crossing the street in a crosswalk with the cross signal...

I have a friend who lived in Brighton, MA for awhile and his wife was run down in a similar manner.

I almost hate to bring this up buuuuut...do you look both ways before you step into the street? When I exit a STORE, I stop at the edge of the doorway and look both ways. Maybe a UPS dude on his cell pushing a hand truck is just around the corner, or a kid on a bike or skateboard, or a motorized wheel chair, or an open manhole. I don't just barge out of a doorway so I sure as hell don't barge out into the roadway without looking around.

I am sorry that happened to you and your friend. I hope you learned that the color of the light is MEANINGLESS to your safety. It really is up to you to be aware of your surroundings at all times.

I haven't confimed this, but I'm 99% certain "standing up" doesn't refer to standing on the pedals but standing on the bike, as in, one foot on the seat and one foot on the handlebars (or 2 feet on either).


Just to be safe, maybe Vancouver needs to make a law prohibiting riding on handrails. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F7z4HxpWfA)

I think these places should put a plainclothes cop on a bike and give him motorized backup to pull over some of the insane drivers out there. There is just no excuse for the aggressive driving I see on every ride.

I was at my mother in law's house today. The cops in her town could give out hundreds of tickets an hour to motorists that are driving like maniacs down her street. The crazy thing is, one block over there is a road with a higher speed limit, only 3 traffic lights instead of 10 stop signs, and almost no driveways. On her street, they just roll the stop signs so it's faster than stopping for a light.

So what? I was run down while crossing the street in a crosswalk with the cross signal in Copley Square in Boston, by a bicycle messenger who blew through a red light while trying to beat cross traffic. He was way late and was easily doinig 20+ mph when he hit me. I had to get stitches in my leg and my knee was so bruised I couldn't bend it all the way for a few days.

I have a friend who lived in Brighton, MA for awhile and his wife was run down in a similar manner. At least if it was a car they were driving there would have had auto insurance that would have paid the hospital bills instead of the victims getting stuck with the co-pay and deductible against their health insurance.
My point is that bending the rules is part of being an effective messenger. You getting hit by some random messenger does not effect or relate to that point in any way. Do you just lurk the boards looking for someone to mention messengers, and blurt out this story as soon as someone does so?

I haven't confimed this, but I'm 99% certain "standing up" doesn't refer to standing on the pedals but standing on the bike, as in, one foot on the seat and one foot on the handlebars (or 2 feet on either).

http://www.aljazeerah.info/News%20photo%20negatives/2004%20phot%20originals/July/P10040706-1.JPG


So riding your BMX into a War Zone is NOT gtg then?:D