Robert Libman: Cyclists must know the law, for everyone's sake

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Our streets in the summertime are brimming with cyclists, scooters, pedestrians, you name it. But as healthy, wholesome and environmentally friendly as it is for people to get around freely without cars, we still live in a society where all forms of transport share the congested public domain and must coexist safely and with some order.

On Tuesday, the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec announced that riders on uncertified or unregistered mopeds and motorbikes will be fined. If the government is serious about making our roadways safer, they must go much further, starting with more coherent enforcement of the existing rules in the Highway Safety Code, particularly regarding cyclists.

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I was at a red light at a busy intersection this week. After the light turned green and I started moving forward, a cyclist flew right in front of my car, zipping through their red light. I honked, and what response did I get from the helmetless cyclist? A sheepish look of “I’m sorry, my bad”? Nope. Instead, I was saluted with a very hearty middle finger.

Even though I could have severely injured or, even worse, killed this aggressive cyclist who ignored the traffic signal, he felt that he owned the road. Similar incidents take place constantly, all over the province, as cyclists and motorists jockey for position at numerous points of convergence.

It may come as a shock to many but, according to Quebec’s Highway Safety Code, cyclists must obey traffic signs and traffic lights at all times. They must come to a complete stop at a red light or stop sign, even if the way is clear. At a red light, they must wait for the light to turn green before continuing, or wait for the pedestrian light, at which point they can continue only if they yield the right of way to pedestrians.

If an intersection has a traffic sign prohibiting right turns at a red light, cyclists are prohibited from turning right when the light is red.

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The law also prohibits cyclists from riding between two lanes of moving vehicles, unless the right lane is reserved for right turns, and it’s prohibited to wear earphones or headphones. Cyclists must stop at least five metres from a school bus when its red lights are flashing.

We all know these rules are very rarely adhered to. In May, horrifying video circulated of a young girl walking across the street to reach a school bus in the Plateau and being struck by a cyclist who flew past her, ignoring the flashing stop sign on the bus. After my incident, I parked and watched the intersection, counting several scofflaws per minute. On a neighbouring residential street with a stop sign, I watched for 10 minutes and did not see a single cyclist come to a full stop.

Coming to a full stop when cycling is a nuisance when the coast is clear, and bicycles don’t pose the same threat to public safety as cars do. Perhaps certain rules regarding complete stops when there is no traffic should be reviewed. But reckless or irresponsible driving by cyclists does cost lives, not to mention provoking traffic accidents among motor vehicles.

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We must establish that happy medium. Many cyclists probably don’t even know they’re breaking the law. There is no course to take, no test to pass and no licence to procure. Like with cars, ensuring that everyone knows the rules, the penalties and consequences won’t eliminate reckless cycling, accidents and death, but it would certainly act as a deterrent that could only improve an untenable situation. Most cyclists are responsible. Ensuring everyone knows the law should be a basic first prerequisite, and fines for infractions must be enforced. (The proceeds could even be used to build better cycling infrastructure.)

Since 2009, all operators of motorized recreational watercraft must obtain a boating licence issued by Transport Canada or other proof of competency. It’s high time to consider doing something similar with cyclists, for their own safety and everyone else’s.

Robert Libman is an architect and planning consultant who has served as Equality Party leader and MNA, mayor of Côte-St-Luc and a member of the Montreal executive committee. He was a Conservative candidate in the 2015 federal election. X @robertlibman

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