At the end of May, the Vancouver Sun wrote about the intention of the Vancouver Police during June (bike month) to hand out ‘information tickets’ to cyclists who, by their actions, appear unaware of cycling laws.  Considering that the fines for ‘real tickets’ are not insignificant—$109 for eight of the nine main offences— and that the ‘information tickets’ list all the possible violations and their penalties, this temporary indulgence for apparent ignorance of the law seems generous and consistent with the goals of pro-cyclists.

Readers’ responses, while indicating appreciation for this effort, take issue with the sheer number of rules and regulations and the utility of some of them.  This debate may be a good thing helping people learn the rules, clarify uncertainties, and maybe obtain improvements.

The cycling rules of the road throughout BC are in two sections of the BC Motor Vehicle Act—s.183 (with 17 subsections) entitled Rights and duties of operator of cycle, and s. 184 (with 6 subsections) entitled Bicycle safety helmets.

In addition, municipalities throughout the province, under their power to enact traffic bylaws, may enact bylaws that apply specifically to cyclists. In Vancouver, the City of Vancouver Street and Traffic By-Law No. 2849 has nine sections specifically applying to cyclists. The substance of municipal ‘cycling’ bylaws essentially reinforces and adapts the Motor Vehicle Act rules to the particular municipality. Together, these sets of rules address where to ride and how to indicate and execute turns, equipping your bicycle for braking and for nighttime riding, equipping yourself with a helmet, what to do in an accident involving a bicycle, and the penalties for committing a cycling offence under the Motor Vehicle Act, which include seizing the offender’s bicycle.

The above-noted Vancouver by-law adds rules against cycling with headphones, requiring that bicycles be equipped with warning bells, and empowering police officers to arrest without warrant any cyclist committing a by-law breach who fails to stop and identify themselves when asked by the police officer.  The full text of all these rules is on the City of Vancouver website: Google ‘Vancouver cycling by-laws’.

The rule under s.183 (2)(f) prohibiting riding “other than on or astride a regular seat of the cycle” is particularly contentious.  A self-described ‘experienced cyclist,’ interpreting it as proscribing standing up on the pedals, objects that because this enables a cyclist to go faster, it is a necessary safety measure.  Another disputes this interpretation arguing that “astride” does not preclude standing on the pedals but it means only “with one leg on each side.”

Motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians—each road-user group expressed concern about the disregard of each for the other and the need for this to change. …And in case you missed it, here is a list of the main Vancouver ‘cycling’ offences and their respective fines:

• Without a helmet: $29
• On sidewalk: $109
• Two abreast: $109
• While not astride seat: $109
• Carrying passengers: $109
• While attached to vehicle: $109
• Without hands on handlebar: $109
• Without due care and attention: $109
• Without reasonable consideration: $109