Submitted by yvonne on 30 June, 2009 - 16:20

Traffic Services has just released the details of this year's week-long 'Safe Cycling - Share the Responsibility' campaign.  The bike union is encouraged by how many drivers (3,502 tickets) were charged for doing things that endanger cyclists.  Not pleased, of course, by just how many drivers regularly behave this way, just that it's encouraging to see this 'Safe Cycling - Share the Responsibility' campaign correctly targetted to motorists as well.

The Toronto Cyclists Union does not however agree that tickets should be issued for 'bicycle equipment offences' (747 tickets).  Many cyclists don't yet know that bells & lights are in fact mandatory.  Warnings (852 of which were issued to motorists & cyclists) are far more effective in this case since forcing a cyclist to pay a ticket is likely going to tie up money that could otherwise have been used for the purchase of lights and/or a bell.  Why not take the opportunity to talk with cyclists about the importance of being visible at night, and having a bell to alert people?  Education in these cases would likely result in greater compliance, and in turn increased safety (as per the goal of the campaign...) - whereas tickets for this kind of thing usually just build animosity towards the police. As do the bogus tickets issued by some undertrained officers...

How do you think this campaign could be improved for next year?  Please email your suggestions to info@bikeunion.to, with Subject: Safe Cycling Campaign.

Click through to review the full press release, with all the numbers.

"Safe Cycling − Share the Responsibility" campaign results
Tuesday, June 30, 2009

On Sunday, June 28, 2009, the Toronto Police Service concluded their one−week ‘Safe Cycling – Share the Responsibility’ campaign.

Officers issued 5,907 tickets to motorists and cyclists who were found committing offences. Of the tickets issued:

• 3,502 tickets were issued to motorists for offences such as opening vehicle doors improperly and failing to yield to cyclists,
• 1,373 tickets were issued to cyclists for moving violations including disobeying traffic signals and failing to yield to pedestrians,
• 747 tickets were issued to cyclists for bicycle equipment offences,
• 84 people under the age of 18 were charged with not wearing helmets,
• 198 parking tickets were issued for parking in designated bike lanes,
• 852 motorists and cyclists were cautioned with respect to a variety of related offences, and
• 10 bike rodeos/lectures involving 411 participants were held across the city.

The Toronto Police Service would like to remind motorists of the dangers of opening car doors in the path of cyclists without looking in mirrors and over your shoulder first. All drivers need to know that checking blind spots prior to making turns can be a matter of life and death. Cyclists should never attempt to pass vehicles on the right near driveways or intersections.

All road users have a responsibility to share the road equally by driving safely, riding responsibly, playing smart and obeying all the rules of the road.

Traffic Services is dedicated to ensuring the safe and orderly movement of traffic within the City of Toronto. Stay informed with what’s happening at Traffic Services by following us on Twitter (TrafficServices), and Facebook (Toronto Police – Traffic Services).