Unsafe Cyclists Sent Back to School

September 14, 2000

Ottawa, ON - The Ottawa-Carleton Regional Police are in the midst of a week-long blitz aimed at reducing the amount of dangerous and illegal cycling in the region.  Along with a ticket, offenders may get an invitation to attend a class to improve their cycling behaviour. The police have teamed up with Citizens for Safe Cycling and the City of Ottawa, to give the classes.

"Cyclists often do not realize that they are considered drivers of vehicles under the Highway Traffic Act," says Sgt. Rick Lavigne. "We investigate hundreds of collisions between cyclists and motor vehicles each year and many of them happened because the cyclist broke the law. By educating bad cyclists how they should be riding maybe we can prevent a few collisions."

According to cycling instructor, Graydon Patterson, cyclists often appear to flout the law out of ignorance or fear. "People riding a bike in traffic will do crazy things to avoid being in the path of a motor vehicle, like jumping onto the sidewalk, or switching to the wrong side of the street. They need a wholesale attitude change to improve their safety. Riding with confidence and with respect for other road users is definitely safest way to cycle."

The lesson that Patterson and other CfSC certified cycling instructors will be teaching covers the major causes of car/bike collisions, how cyclists can avoid these situations, and what cyclists are required to do by law, including what equipment is mandatory.

Cyclists riding without lights after dark will also be receiving attention during the blitz, notes Sgt. Lavigne. "This is a problem that is out of control. Most cyclists on the road after dark do not have the minimum lighting requirements."

For information on local and provincial cycling laws, contact Citizens for Safe Cycling at 567-1288 or visit their website at http://www.cfsc.ottawa.on.ca/

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Contact:
Sylvia Welke, CfSC Safety and Promotion Program Coordinator
Phone: 567-1288   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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