56 car/cyclist collisions in an 18 month period - police will be watching for poor driving and cycling habits.

News 100 redBy Staff

June 4, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

It’s bicycle season! Children and adults alike are out enjoying the Spring and Summer weather and the hard-core cyclists are populating the beautiful rural roads in Halton.

Those roads have not been accident free.

Cycling in Burlington

Burlington has created car free Sundays – occasions when the roads are blocked off to vehicular traffic.

Since January 2014, there have been 127 reports of Motor Vehicle Collisions involving bicycles in the Region of Halton, 56 of those collisions occurred in  Burlington. The vast majority of collisions involving cyclists are intersection related, followed by cyclists struck from behind when passing motorists fail to provide them enough room.

Bicycles are considered vehicles under the Highway Traffic Act and cyclists must abide by the same rules and regulations and drivers. Sharing the road is a responsibility we all must learn to make a priority.

Officers working in the City of Burlington will be making efforts from now until October, to reduce the number of collisions involving bicycles through awareness, education and enforcement.

Burlington is the only municipality in the Region that allows cyclists of any age to ride on most sidewalks throughout the City.

The City of Burlington allows cyclists of any age to ride on most sidewalks throughout the City. The exceptions to this are:

• Bicycle riding is prohibited on the sidewalks of both sides of Brant Street between Caroline Street and Lakeshore Road.
• Bicycle riding is also not permitted where there is an alternative off road pathway, Multi-Use Pathway or Bike path available that is adjacent to the sidewalk.
• Bicycle riders on a sidewalk must yield the right of way to any pedestrian and shall operate their bicycle in a safe manner.

All cyclists under the age of sixteen (18) years are required by law to wear a helmet while riding or operating a bicycle, and the chinstrap of the helmet must be securely fastened under the chin. (According to the Highway Traffic Act, 104 (2.1)

Dennison entering Burlington GWTA

Councillor Jack Dennison is a regular bike rider – known to take part in long trips.

Under the Highway Traffic Act, a police officer who finds any person contravening this Act or any municipal by-law regulating traffic while in charge of a bicycle may require that person to stop and identify themselves, just as drivers must do during a traffic stop.
There are rules of the road that apply to everyone – let’s make it safe for everyone.

That’s important now that the Mayor is riding his bike to work

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10 comments to 56 car/cyclist collisions in an 18 month period – police will be watching for poor driving and cycling habits.

  • Roger tipple

    Cylists should be tested for their knowledge of the rules that apply to the operation of a bicycle and issued a licence. It would seem that a majority of them don’ t understand that a stop sign or stop light actually applies to them as do other rules of the Hoghway Traffic Act. Try enforcing those rules if you want an immediate improvement. Also, please keep your finger to yourself.

  • Francis M

    This topic will always draw arguments and examples from both sides, who are equally as passionate as the other in their views about their rights. I write this as a homeowner, not as a driver or cyclist. North Shore Boulevard is about as unsafe as it gets for all concerned, especially between King Road and LaSalle Park. Both groups, drivers and cyclists, are committing extremely dangerous acts on this roadway every day, and especially on weekends, and are equally at fault when it comes to this common theme:

    1) groups of high end cyclists riding in formation. You must by law stop for stop signs. Yelling ‘clear’ and blowing through the stop at what I guess to be 40-50 KMH is 100% wrong according to the law
    2) drivers in cars must stop for stop signs. it has become common place to roll through at 10KMH, but I have seen many, many examples of drivers not even attempting to brake and ignoring the stop signs

    Both groups will have arguments. Both will justify their actions, especially at the “quieter” three way stops where “its not hurting anyone”. However, these two issues will combine one day and there is going to be a terrible accident…its only a matter of time. Both groups need to reconsider their actions.

  • Shannon Gillies

    Burlington has a long way to go in making cycling safer for residents. Lakeshore Road is incredibly dangerous to ride on despite the painted chevrons and Share the Road signage. Drivers ignore them. If we’re serious about growing our city in the 21st century, telling residents to ride on the sidewalk is not the way to do it. I’m disappointed that my own councillor in Ward 2 is not on board with investing meaningfully in SAFE cycling infrastructure.

    Curious to know exactly what Halton Police are planning to do to “reduce the number of collisions involving bicycles through awareness, education and enforcement.” Drivers definitely need additional education about sharing the road. This, in part, means doing right shoulder checks when making right-hand turns, checking their mirrors before opening their door when parked parallel to the curb, and giving bike riders a lot more space when passing them on the road, even if there are cycling lanes (which aren’t physically separated). While police are at it, I’d love if they helped educate drivers about coming to complete stops behind the white line before turning right on red–failing to do so is a MAJOR hazard to pedestrians and makes walking in some parts of Burlington unpleasant and dangerous (Lakeshore and Brant St is a good example).

  • John

    If bicycles are considered vehicles under the Highway Traffic Act why are they allowed to operate with no licence or insurance.

    It would also be interesting to know how many of the 56 accidents in Burlington were cause by cyclists and if any charges resulted from them.

    • henri de beaujolais

      Hi John,

      The laws of the Province of Ontario state bicyclists don’t require insurance and a license.

      Ask the Halton Police – they would have your statistics. When you find out, let us know!

      • John

        Hi Henri,

        I sent an inquire to the Halton Police regarding the statistics. They intern have sent it to the Burlington Community Mobilization Bureau for follow-up. When they reply I will post their comments.

        You are correct in that the law states bicycles do not require a licence or insurance however the same law states they have the same rights and obligations as other vehicles, two of them being a licence and insurance. Seems a contradiction within the law.

        I have also inquired regarding the insurance matter. If a cyclist were to be the cause of an incident resulting in damage and had no insurance they would appear to be personally liable. I will also post their comments when available.

  • Tony Pullin

    “Editor’s note: The information was provided to us by the Halton Regional Police. The article has been revised – good on the readers for catching that one.”
    It is concerning that Halton Regional Police erroneously provided information for Burlington Vermont. It must be a very long response time for some 911 calls.

  • Bryce Lee

    South Winooski Ave, Church Street….sounds like Burlington
    Vermonth, NOT Ontario. Also the Inner Fire District and the Church Street Marketplace…that’s Burlington, another country, another state, though!

    Editor’s note: The information was provided to us by the Halton Regional Police. The article has been revised – good on the readers for catching that one.

  • Chris Ariens

    As an advocate for cycling and a member of the Burlington Cycling Committee, I’m glad to see that the Halton Regional Police will be watching to ensure motorists and cyclists are sharing the roads safely.

    It’s also very interesting to see the statistics on motor vehicle collisions involving bicycles in your article, and somewhat unusual that cyclists are being struck from behind on the roads here in Burlington. Typically the leading causes of accidents involving cyclists are improper turns and dooring.

    Hopefully drivers in the city will take note of the new 1 metre passing requirement which was enacted into law earlier this week as part of Bill 31, thanks largely to the tireless efforts of Burlington’s MPP, Eleanor McMahon. If you can’t safely pass, be patient. A few seconds delay isn’t worth risking the life of a fellow citizen.

    P.S. You might want to re-check some of the streets listed – they look like these are in Burlington, Vermont. Sidewalk cycling is permitted everywhere in Burlington, Ontario – except for Brant Street between Caroline and Lakeshore.

    Editor’s note: The information was provided to us by the Halton Regional Police. The article has been revised – good on the readers for catching that one.

  • Tim

    You MUST be kidding me! Did you seriously copy and paste this information because this is not from Burlington, Ontario. Don’t be a journalist if you can’t get your info properly.

    No one is permitted to bicycle on sidewalks within Burlington’s City Center (an 8 square block area around Church St. bounded by Pearl St., South Winooski Ave., Main St., and Saint Paul St.), including the Church Street Marketplace. Sidewalk stencils have been placed within the City Center to indicate where bicycles may not be ridden on the sidewalks. Only children under the age of 16 are permitted to ride on the sidewalks within the Inner Fire District (bounded by King St., Grant St., Pine St., and Union St.).

    Editor’s note: The information was provided to us by the Halton Regional Police. The article has been revised – good on the readers for catching that one.

    Editor’s note: The information was provided to us by the Halton Regional Police. The article has been revised – good on the readers for catching that one.