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Police fines for cyclists

September 29th, 2014 · 23 Comments

This came to my inbox from reader/resident George Muenz. Anyone else noticed this problem?

Thousands of cyclists go up the Spanish Banks road to UBC in order to get to the cycling paths on Marine Drive and onwards.

I have had reports from several people that police have threatened people with fines and worse if they do not ride on the pedestrian path adjacent to the road. That path is dangerous as there is nowhere near enough room for pedestrians/joggers and thousands of cyclists.

I don’t know why it’s not like any other road in the Lower Mainland where cyclists and cars share the road. I suspect that someone “important” complained about bike traffic on that road, which of course is heaviest on weekend mornings and the police, who one might think have more important issues to address are making this a priority, even if the result is very unsafe issues for citizens.

I created this petition last night

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cycling-on-the-road-at-spanish-banks-ubc

Hope you can spread the word,

Categories: Uncategorized

  • John Geddes

    I really question whether this is true. “I have heard reports from several people” makes me wonder. I am not an expert but my understanding of the motor vehicle act is that a bike is a vehicle and as such is entitled to be on any road (except perhaps freeways and other speed restricted highways).

    Before creating a petition, I would have thought Mr. Muenz should have phoned the UBC RCMP to confirm the situation.

  • Kirk

    Oh, our creme de la creme and the endless entertainment they provide for the other 99% of us.

  • Jeff Leigh

    It would be good to hear from the local RCMP and perhaps MoTI, who have responsibility for the road.

    I ride this route regularly, and don’t ever use the sidewalk when climbing the hill. It is for pedestrians. I have never noticed a problem with motor vehicles overtaking when it is safe to do so, ie not on the corners.

    The sign has been a regular topic of discussion amongst cyclists on that route. I haven’t seen anyone ticketed.

  • George Muenz

    John Geddes,

    Yes, it is true, I personally know two people, one in my cycling club, and one a cycling coach who have not only been forced off the road but threatened with arrest. I had previously contacted the RCMP and the Ministry of Transportation to no avail.

  • Alex P

    A picture of a warning was posted on twitter yesterday: https://twitter.com/performancebarb/status/516320422791368705

  • David

    Hi Jeff,

    I was there, and a fellow rider did actually receive a written warning in the form of a ticket. The RCMP vehicle chased after them with lights flashing. Had they issued a full ticket, the two officers explained that it would have been a $120 fine.

    My fellow rider took the picture with the RCMP officer in it. That picture should provide you with all the confirmation you need.

    I have written to both the RCMP and the MoTI to express concern.

  • Richard Wittstock

    Thanks for this Frances, as a regular user of that route (bike and car, but mostly bike) I have signed the petition.

    Now: How about we start a petition to stop Vancouver Police from ticketing people whose bike racks partially obscure their license plate? That one cost me $300. Yes, for real.

  • Jeff Leigh

    David

    Good letter.

  • West Vanman

    This is actually signed: cyclists are required to use the sidewalk according to a bylaw.

    I would question the legality of the bylaw. I believe this falls into the category of situations where UBC’s unique municipal status gives it a different perspective.

    Still, bicycles are classified as Limited Speed Vehicles provincially. That entitles use of roads (as opposed to, say, skateboards) and I’d challenge a ticket if ever issued one on the basis that municipal bylaws can’t override that.

  • Kenji

    Pedestrians share a path with cyclists all the time, e.g. by Science World.

    It’s not a big deal as long as the cyclists are careful (sigh), and I’d rather do that than share hills and tight corners with automobiles potentially piloted by some kid coming back from a kegger.

    As long as the path is wide enough and clearly marked as being the only permissible cycle route, what’s the problemo?

  • Jeff Leigh

    There are published standards for minimum widths of shared paths. They are followed by the ministry. This one doesn’t meet the minimum width for a bike path, let alone a shared path, which has to meet a wider spec. It has a dangerous drop off without a railing. It is full of pedestrians (as it well should be). It just ends at the top of the hill, on the pedestrian sidewalk. There is no marking to indicate if cyclists should use it on the descent.

    If they want to have a shared path, then it needs to be wide enough to be safe, and sign posted properly. Preferably separated for pedestrians and cyclists.

    But if cyclists are going up the hill at 20-35 km/hr, as many of us do, then they probably shouldn’t be on a shared path anyway. And there shouldn’t be laws that require cyclists to only use shared paths when the motor vehicle act references the rights and responsibilities around using the roadway.

  • Richard

    @Kenji

    Cyclists and pedestrians do not share the same path by Science World. There are separate cycling and walking paths.

    Sharing only works if there are not many people cycling and walking and if the path is wide enough to allow safe passing.

    The path along Marine is really too narrow to allow for safe passing so it really is not an option for cycling.

  • Brilliant

    Probably enough people complained about packs of middle aged men dressed in spandex and riding two abreast still. Illegal BTW)

  • James

    Can’t believe RCMP are ticketing for this. Another argument for separated bikes lanes! If bikes were afforded similar infrastructure as cars and peds, we wouldn’t have this problem!

  • Richard

    @Brilly

    Yes, riding two abreast is not allowed but on roads like Marine that are not wide enough for drivers to pass without changing lanes, riding two abreast is safer for everyone, including drivers.

    If drivers are passing cyclists riding single file, they would have to be in the oncoming lane of traffic for twice as long compared to if the cyclists were riding two abreast.

    Even the police in Ontario supported allowing riding two abreast. The law needs to be changed for everyone’s safety.

  • Arno Schortinghuis

    HUB has sent a letter to MOTI expressing our concerns re the reflectors and the sign and did not get a response re sign. From the MVA, it looks like the Ministry and municipalities may designate roads or lanes for certain vehicles. I guess the sign implicitly dictates that the traffic lanes are for motorized traffic only.

  • Everyman

    I have often wondered why NW Marine Drive is not widened to accommodate cyclists (at least as far as Spanish Banks) by cutting into the wide grassy median between the road and the parking lots. Would anybody really protest that totally unused strip of grass being reduced.

  • Alan Layton

    I’ve ridden that hill often, although usually in the summer with lots of bikes on the road. I noticed that it’s mainly seasoned cyclists and serious racing types who use the road a lot, as part of a long, popular training route. I usually use the pedestrian path and pull to the side for walkers. I’ve seen quite a few nasty encounters between cyclists and drivers on the road portion, so I wonder if that’s what prompted the police crackdown?

    Regardless, I bet there will be a separate bike lane on that road in the very near future.

  • bar

    Ah, as Kirk says, the travails of the 1%…

  • George Muenz

    I don’t get that 1% comment. What does enjoying cycling have to do with economic status?

    If you are talking about economic status, do you have a problem with people aspiring to be successful, financial or otherwise?

    It’s like a comment I saw on another forum but in revers, where someone says “oh, it’s time the drivers spoke up, and took back the roads, they are the ones that have jobs, not like the cyclists.”

  • peakie

    Hmm, Disqus filter software kills all the cyclists’ posting.
    Good,
    But Disqus is annoying and requires “Third Party” rather than direct registration.
    A bad idea.

  • Jeff Leigh

    This is a two way, shared pedestrian and cycling path. Abysmal. But a good chance to try out the new Disqus features. Both posting pictures, and editing.

  • peakie

    Where is the free air pumps for bicycles with a gauge?