Cyclists angry after Toronto officials ticket them for speeding in popular park
Days after dozens of cyclists were ticketed in Toronto's High Park for speeding and running stop signs, it appears the rule breaking continues, leading some to question whether the problem is with the cyclists or the rules themselves.
Not a single cyclist stopped at stop signs at a High Park intersection as CTV News Toronto watched for an hour -- from lycra-clad racers to families out for an afternoon ride.
Young people, older people, people with and without helmets, and even one person doing a wheelie through the stop sign. One person stopped near a sign, but that appeared to be just to get directions.
That level of widespread rule-breaking is a sign that rules designed for cars are not necessarily applicable to bikes, said The Biking Lawyer, David Shellnutt, and rather than ticket a vast cross-section of cyclists, it’s better to have a conversation about what the rules should be.
"Rulebooks are designed around the car, and in Ontario the car is king," Shellnutt said, who pointed out that speeding and stop sign laws try to keep people safer from cars, which are responsible for the vast majority of injury and death on the roads.
He says ticketing cyclists for not following them to the letter when they're being safe is unfair.
"We ought to be catching up to the times. COVID caused a cycling revolution. Let's tweak the rules and legislation as needed to make sure that people are safe but that rules apply fairly," he said.
Last week, complaints from the public led city officials to put up a trap, ticketing 62 cyclists for speeding and running stop signs, said Carleton Grant, the City of Toronto's executive director of Municipal Licensing and Standards.
"It's not the Tour de France. It's not a race, it's a park road," Grant said.
Some park users said very fast cyclists using the park to exercise can make them nervous.
"They whip through pretty quickly, that’s the danger," said Katie O’Dell, a mom out biking with her family.
But the enforcement blitz also handed $125 speeding tickets to Tracy Osborn, who said she was using the park route to find a safer way to the water than going on Toronto's roads. Officials said she was going 35 in a 20 zone, downhill, she said.
"Police officers are focusing their time, effort and tax dollars are ticketing people who are biking in a safe manner through the park. So it’s a misalignment of resources," Osborn told CTV News Toronto.
They also nabbed Daniel Oulton, who said he was coasting down a hill en route to his job in the park itself.
"I was quite frustrated because I have no way of knowing the speed on my bike. I don’t have a speedometer," he said.
Twenty-two cyclists were ticketed for speeding and 40 were ticketed for running stop signs, Grant said. Cars were also ticketed too at 64 total tickets, he said.
Toronto already allows cyclists to vary from some road rules — they are allowed to go the opposite direction down some signposted one-way streets, for example.
Other options for the park could include a speed limit that changes depending on the time of day, so that cyclists could exercise in the early morning hours without breaking the rules, but have to slow during peak hours to not disturb other park members, Shellnutt said.
Several U.S. states allow cyclists to treat stop signs as a yield sign in what’s called the "Idaho stop", which recognizes that it takes more effort for cyclists to stop and start, and that cyclists are much less dangerous to the public than even small cars.
Sally Fogel, visiting High Park in Toronto from Idaho, said that the approach doesn’t turn regular cyclists into chronic rule-breakers.
"It's probably safer overall," she said.
Grant said that the Idaho stop "seems reasonable, but is not in place right now," and said changes would have to be made to Toronto’s park bylaw.
"It's something we could look at and work with the cycling community on what is a safe and appropriate way to do this," he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Denial and uncertainty are looming over a Biden-Trump rematch 6 months out from U.S. Election Day
Exactly six months before Election Day, Biden and Trump are locked in the first contest in 112 years with a current and former president competing for the White House. It's a race that is at once deeply entrenched and highly in flux as many voters are only just beginning to embrace the reality of the 2024 campaign.
Maple Leafs eliminated from NHL playoffs with Game 7 OT loss to Bruins
Sheldon Keefe told his players hockey history would remember them one way or another.
opinion You don't need to be an influencer to earn income from social media
How legitimate are claims by some content creators that the average person can earn passive income from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram? Personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says it's quite possible, if you're willing to put in the initial time and effort.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Ukraine marks its third Easter at war as it comes under fire from Russian drones and troops
As Ukraine marked its third Easter at war, Russia on Sunday launched a barrage of drones concentrated in Ukraine's east, wounding more than a dozen people, and claimed its troops took control of a village they had been targeting.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Trudeau 'absolutely' best person to lead the Liberals in next election: LeBlanc says
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc insists he's not planning a leadership campaign to head the Liberal party, should current leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign, seemingly quashing rumours he's planning to make a move for his boss' job.
Chemical spill could be cause of stinky water in Puslinch, Ont., new report says
People living in Puslinch, Ont. may have the answer to why their water smelled so bad last year.