Advocates ask Guelph police to take alternate route in cyclist safety campaign

Cycling enthusiasts are asking the Guelph Police Service to switch gears on its safety initiative. CTV’s Alexandra Holyk explains.

Guelph Police are putting the spotlight on cyclists this month with a bike safety campaign.

But not everyone is fully on board.

According to the Guelph Police Service, the initiative is geared to two-wheeled traffic and aims to educate by increasing engagement and enforcement.

“To ensure that cyclists are aware of the rules of the road and their obligations under the Highway Traffic Act and ensure that they’re conducting themselves safely,” explained Scott Tracey, a Guelph Police spokesperson.

Officers are encouraged to have in-person interactions with cyclists to explain the road rules and inform them of potential infractions.

“Riding in crosswalks, people riding on sidewalks or busy pedestrian areas and putting pedestrians at risk, cyclists riding the wrong way on the wrong side of the road facing traffic, riding on one-way streets going the wrong way,” Tracey listed as examples.

Other rules police said they’re focusing on include:

• Obeying all bicycle-specific and general traffic signals
• Dismounting and walking your bike when going through a crosswalk or crossover
• Stopping for police and identifying yourself if the officer believes an offence has been committed
• Using lights on your bike 30 minutes before sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise, or when the weather results in low visibility

The campaign also has a social media component, where police share safety tips and reminders online.

“All road users have a responsibility to be aware of the rules of the road,” Tracey said.

Some cycling advocates, however, said they feel as though the campaign puts the blame on their two-wheeled peers.

“Just seems like we’re targeting individual cyclists,” explained Andrea Bidgood.

She was appointed the city’s first bicycle mayor earlier this year through a global network run by an NGO based in the Netherlands.

For Bidgood, road safety remains a top priority.

“There’s many ways to actually increase safety for cyclists and we’re again choosing to perhaps go after individuals for infractions,” she said. “It’s not a good way to build trust.”

Bidgood noted that trust is already shaky between cyclists and police, following two fatal collisions involving a cyclist and a pedestrian in August and September, respectively.

“I would rather see something that really encourages people to come to the police and feel like they’re safe,” she suggested.

David Shellnutt, a Toronto-based biking lawyer, feels police should also send a message to motorists and allocate resources where they’re most needed.

“If people going the wrong way on a one-way on their bikes are causing a big problem involving lots of collisions, sure, dedicate road resources there,” Shellnutt said. “If they’re not, then I question the appropriateness of it.”

Instead, advocates recommended moving forward with more bike infrastructure and using campaigns similar to the current one to spread the word.

“To better connect with cyclists and try to build trust and provide resources on how to be safe on the road,” Virginia Andersen, the chair of the Guelph Community for Active Transportation, said.