Submitted by yvonne on 21 June, 2009 - 10:44

Please note that, as they do every year during Bike Month, the Toronto Police will be running their campaign targeting unsafe cycling from Monday June 22nd to Sunday June 28th.

Important:  Know your rights if you are stopped and ticketed!
- You do not need to provide a Driver's License, but you should provide some form of identification when asked
- Make sure to ask the officer writing the ticket to indicate clearly that this is a cycling related offense on the ticket
- Demerit points have no role in cycling related infractions

More information on what to do if you receive a ticket can be found here:
http://respect.to/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=LegalInfo.HowToFightTrafficTickets
Highway Traffic Act:
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90h08_e.htm
List of violations (including local by-laws):
http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/pdf/hta.pdf

While the majority of the bike union's efforts as an organisation are in support of the rights of cyclists, we felt it important to take part in the press conference launch in order to support the police in their efforts to remind cyclists and drivers of their shared responsibilities in road safety.

The Traffic Services press release is included here:

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“SAFE CYCLING – SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY”
Friday, June 19, 2009
Traffic Services

The launch of the “SAFE CYCLING – SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY” campaign which will take place on Monday June 22nd, 7:00 a.m., 2009 at College Street between Augusta and Bellevue Avenue.

The Safe Cycling – Sharing The Responsibility Campaign will commence on Monday, June 22, 2009. The campaign will conclude on Sunday, June 28, 2009. The traffic strategy is a one-week initiative, designed to promote awareness and education by reducing the potential for cycling related injuries.

Traffic Services officers, along with Yvonne Bambrick Executive Director of the Toronto Cyclists Union, will be present to speak with the Media.

The Toronto Police Service reminds motorists of the dangers of opening car doors in the path of cycl ists and the importance of checking blind spots prior to making right turns. Officers will pay particular attention to those motorists who endanger the lives of cyclists
including vehicles parked in designated bike lanes. Attention will also be paid to cyclists whose aggressive riding puts themselves, pedestrians and motorists at risk.

Motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians have a responsibility to share the road equally by driving safely, riding responsibly, and obeying all the rules of the road.
Cst. Mig Roberts
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Cheers, and Safe Cycling
Yvonne Bambrick