(Photo credit: Pixabay/Creative Commons)
Good weather means more and more people taking alternate modes of transportation to get around.
In 2010, about 19,000 cyclists rode within Toronto’s downtown core at 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during a typical weekday. The City of Toronto has the highest number of residents using a bicycle to get to work at 1.7 per cent and on a nice spring or summer day, it’s common to see cyclists sharing the streets with cars, buses and streetcars.
With more cyclists hitting the road, drivers may not understand a cyclist’s actions, which could lead to some anger and frustration.
For example, typically cyclists ride on the shoulder of the road, near the curb, but at times you may spot a cyclist riding in the centre of the lane, which may make it impossible for a car to pass.
Drivers may not be happy with the situation, but it is legal for a cyclist to do so. Cyclists may ride in the centre of the lane when riding in areas with sewer grates or debris that could get stuck in their bike’s tires and make them unstable or if they’re planning to make a left-hand turn.
While slow-riding vehicles are required to ride close to the curb, according to the Highway Traffic Act, this only needs to be done when it’s practicable for riders. For example, cyclists need to shift lanes, just like cars do, when there are cars parked on the street.
Any cyclists dealing with frustrated drivers while taking over the lane should ignore them and continue riding until it’s safe to shift back to the curb. While any drivers should be patient with cyclists because they may be riding in the centre of the lane because it’s unsafe to ride near the curb.
Meanwhile, Toronto cyclist groups are pushing the Ontario government to allow bikers to do rolling stops at stop signs in residential areas. Currently, they follow the same rules as vehicles, which means they’re required to come to a full stop at a stop sign. But Toronto cyclists hope to follow in the footsteps of the state of Idaho which treats stop signs as yield signs.
“The rationale behind this is that bicycles are momentum-based vehicles,” the head of Cycle Toronto told CTV Toronto. “All the energy, all the work in cycling is in starting and stopping.”
Cyclist advocates also argue that this change could decrease the number of cycling collisions.
For your own safety, cyclists are currently required to follow the same rules as cars on the road, but drivers also need to be on the lookout for any cyclists who are sharing the road.
Recently, a Toronto man plead guilty to failing to remain at the scene of an accident causing death after the hit and run of a cyclist in 2012. The cyclist died when he was hit from behind while stopped at a red light and waiting to turn left. Initially, police told his wife that the cyclist was killed after riding through a red light at an intersection, but this was proven to be untrue when the case was re-opened.
If you’re involved in a bicycle accident, there are certain steps you should take.
Being involved in a bicycle accident is a frightening experience for anyone. The personal injury and accident lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers have been handling personal injury claims for clients throughout Ontario for more than 45 years. We know how to get you the compensation you need. Call us at 416-920-4242 to set up a free consultation. Come chat with us!
Greg Neinstein
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