By Staff
October 31st, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Is this the beginning of a shift from the idea of road diets?
The City is reminding pedestrians and cyclists to follow proper etiquette and safety practices when using a shared pathway to ensure the safety of all users.
Multi-use pathways in the city are a shared space. Residents are reminded to abide by the following etiquette:
• Keep to the right
• Warn others when approaching or passing
• Faster trail users yield to slower traffic
• Use lights at night
• Keep dogs on leash
Sounds like the transportation people have stopped talking about how to comport ourselves on a street that is on a “diet”.
But – “Burlington is one of Canada’s best and most livable cities, a place where people, nature and business thrive.”
Vito Tolone, Director of Transportation Services had this to say about using pathways for cycling: “Walking and cycling on the city’s multi-use pathways is a fun and healthy activity, but it’s important to ensure everyone’s safety. Please be respectful to fellow pathway users and remember that the speed limit on pathways in Burlington is 15 kilometres an hour.”
Quick Facts
Approximately 208,000 cyclists and 280,000 pedestrians use the Beachway multi-use path annually.
Cyclists that need a bike light or bell can get one from the City of Burlington, free of charge, while supplies last.
For more information, please contact Dan Ozimkovic at dan.ozimkovic@burlington.
I filed two FOI requests last year to find out exactly how many charges Halton Regional Police laid for cycling infractions in the City between 2013 and 2015.
In three years they laid a grand total of 0 charges under City of Burlington Municipal By-law 0553-1990 which prohibits riding more than two abreast on residential streets. They laid 3 charges in the same time period under Section 62(17) of the Ontario Highway Traffic Act which requires lights and reflectors. They laid 10 charges under Section (74)(5) for failure to have an alarm or bell. They laid 2 charges under Section 104(21) for failure to wear a helmut. They laid 768 charges for failing to signal as required under Section 142. Finally, they laid 9 charges under Section 144(29) for riding on a crosswalk.
If the police don’t take cycling infractions seriously and enforce statutes already on the books it’s no wonder cyclists flaunt them with impunity.
Why are cyclist still using the beach pathway when the city just paved Lakeshore and there are brand new bike lanes all along Lakeshore. Be nice if pedestrians had a safe place to walk at the beach. I have almost been hit by cyclist many times and I have seen others get hit by them. They should be utilizing their lanes on the road.
It would be quite appropriate for cyclist to use hand signals, obey traffic and signage along the road. Monetary enforcement of the infractions would be quite appropriate. If this is shared with residents of Burlington it would give give greater confidence to drivers. It is a dreadful shame more attention to safe walking for the walkers of Burlington. Maybe next term of Council.
208,000 cyclists – where did this figure come from?
A good observation. That equates to 570 cyclists per day.
Who provided this “quick fact”? It seems more like a fake fact…..