The Toronto Police have launched an enforcement campaign called Cycle Right. You can see the news release on the Toronto Police web site. The press release will probably dissapear from the web site in about a week so I will include it below.

Toronto Police Service

News Release

For Broadcast: 02:54 pm

Date: 2002-06-07

'CYCLE RIGHT' CAMPAIGN

Cycling is an efficient and environmentally friendly method of transportation that continues to grow in popularity. However, far too many cyclists continue to ride in an aggressive and unsafe manner that poses a danger to not only themselves, but to all road users.

Cyclists riding on sidewalks, through red lights and stop signs, weaving carelessly in and out of traffic or riding the wrong way down one way streets are an everyday occurrence according to Superintendent Gary Grant head of Toronto Police, Traffic Services.

Grant states that, "Traffic safety is a shared responsibility of all road users, motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. Cyclists must realize that they are often at risk of death or serious injury as a result of their own unsafe actions, and that they owe it to all road users to cycle in a safe and responsible manner". Grant adds however, that "officers will also be taking enforcement action against motorists who endanger cyclists in any way, including driving or parking in designated bicycle lanes or carelessly opening vehicle doors near approaching cyclists."

In an effort to raise awareness of the need to cycle safely, TheToronto Police Service will launch The 2002 "Cycle Right" Enforcement and Awareness Campaign" on Monday June 10th at 10.30a.m. Members of the Media are invited to attend the kick-off of the Campaign at the intersection of Dundas St. W. and Beverley Street (southeast corner). Toronto Police Bicycle officers will be on hand to distribute the "Cycle Right" pamphlet which was prepared by members of the 22 Division Traffic Response Unit.

For more information call Superintendent Gary Grant at (416) 808-1914 or Sergeant Ted Holtzheuser at (416) 808-1926.

Superintendent Gary Grant

A similar one week campaign was conducted last year also called 'Cycle Right' year which focused mainly on cyclists who were riding in an unsafe manner. After this campaign concerns were raised at a Toronto Cycling Committee meeting that the actions of cyclists were being targeted while the actions of drivers that endanger cyclists were being ignored. Actions such as opening car doors in front of cyclists and parking in bike lanes. To rectify that the Police conducted a second campaign later in 2002 that focused on motorists actions towards cyclists such as parking in bike lanes and opening doors in traffic.

This year the Toronto Police Service's plan is to combine both campaigns to ensure both cyclists and motorists are obeying the rules of the road and run this campaign for two weeks.

The Police say their main goal is to educate and have people in compliance with the law, not to hand out lots of tickets. However they can hand out some pretty hefty tickets though. Bikes are considered vehicles under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) and have to obey the same rules as cars. If they don't they can be ticketed with the same offences and have to pay the same fines. For example if you are caught running a stop sign or a red light on a bike you pay the same fine as a motorist which is around $105.00. For more information on bikes and the law you can go to the Advocay for Respect for Cyclists library page There they have specific information about cyclists and the HTA

Being classified as vehicles in the Highway Traffic Act gives cyclists the right to be on the roads and share them with cars. With that right comes the responsibility to follow the laws that come with the HTA.