Cycling and The Law

 A bicycle is a vehicle under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act (HTA). This means that, as a bicyclist, you have the same rights and responsibilities to obey all traffic laws as other road users. Cyclists charged for disobeying traffic laws will be subject to a minimum set fine and a Victim Surcharge fine of $20.00 for most offences (please note set fines below are subject to change).

The following are key sections of the HTA concerning cyclists.

HTA 144/136 – Traffic signals and signs

stop for red lights and stop signs and comply with all other signs. Set fine: $85.00

 

HTA 153 – One-ways streets

ride in the designated direction on one-way streets. Set fine: $85.00

 

HTA 147 – Slow moving traffic travel on right side

any vehicle moving slower than the normal traffic speed should drive in the right-hand lane, or as close as practicable to the right edge of the road except when preparing to turn left or when passing another vehicle. For cyclists, you must ride far enough out from the curb to maintain a straight line, clear of sewer grates, debris, potholes, and parked car doors. You may occupy any part of a lane when your safety warrants it. Never compromise your safety for the convenience of a motorist behind you. Set fine: $85.00

 

HTA 142 – Signalling a turn

before turning, look behind you and signal your turn. Cyclists can use their right arm to signal a right turn. Set fine: $85.00

 

HTA 140(1) 144(29) – Crosswalks

yield or stop for pedestrians at crosswalks. Set fine: $85.00

 

HTA 140(6)/144(29) – No riding in crosswalks

walk your bike when crossing at a crosswalk. Set fine: $85.00

 

HTA 166 – Streetcars

stop two metres behind streetcar doors and wait until passengers have boarded or departed and reached the curb. Set fine: $85.00

 

HTA 175 (12) – Stopped school buses

stop for stopped school buses when the upper alternating red lights are flashing and the stop arm is out. Set fine: $400.00

 

HTA 62(17) – Lights

a bike must have a white front light and a red rear light or reflector if you ride between 1/2 hour before sunset and 1/2 hour after sunrise and white reflective tape on the front forks and red reflective tape on rear forks. Set fine: $20.00

 

HTA 75 (5) – Bell

a bike must have a bell or horn in good working order. Set fine: $85.00

  

HTA 64(3) – Brakes

a bike must have at least one brake system on the rear wheel. When you put on the brakes, you should be able to skid on dry, level pavement. Set fine: $85.00

 

HTA 218 – Identification

Cyclists must stop and identify themselves when required to stop by police for breaking traffic laws. The police officer will ask you for your correct name and address. Set fine: $85.00

 

HTA Reg. 630 – Expressways

Bicycles are prohibited on expressway / freeway highways such as the 400 series, the QEW, Ottawa Queensway and on roads where “No Bicycle” signs are posted. Set fine: $85.00

 

HTA 178(2) – Passengers

Passengers are not allowed on a bicycle designed for one person. Set fine: $85.00

 

HTA 178(1) – Attaching to a vehicle

You are not permitted to attach yourself to the outside of another vehicle or streetcar for the purpose of “hitching a ride.” Set fine: $85.00

HTA 104 – Helmets   Every cyclist under the age of eighteen must wear an approved bicycle helmet. Parents or guardians shall not knowingly permit cyclists under sixteen to ride without a helmet. Set fine: $60.00

HTA 179 – Dismounted bicyclist

Cyclists are required to ride on the right-hand side of the road. If you are walking your bike on a highway where there are no sidewalks, you are considered a pedestrian and you should walk on the left-hand side of the road facing traffic. If it is not safe for you to cross the road to face traffic, you may walk your bike on the right-hand side of the road. Set fine: $35.00.

The following are not considered bicycles and are subject to different rules for use:

• Limited-speed motorcycles
• Motor-assisted bicycles (mopeds)
• Low-speed vehicles
• Electric and motorized scooters (go-peds)
• Pocket bikes
• Segway Human/Personal Transporters

For more information on the rules of use for these types of vehicles, please visit www.mto.gov.on.ca.

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Watch for “CYCLING SKILLS (Safe Cycling)  Part 12 -”Electric Bicycles” in the Blog on Thursday, September 2nd.

Over the next number of blogs we will cover Safety Equipment (Sizing, Safety Check, Helmets, Visibility), Handling Skills, Riding in Traffic (Where, Intersections, Signs and traffic signals, Dealing with trucks and buses), Obstacles and Road surfaces, Cycling and the Law and Electric Bicycles.  Stay tuned for the next few weeks as we cover some important information to keep YOU safe while cycling!

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The above information is taken from the Government of Ontario website and addresses “Ontario’s Guide to Safe Cycling”.  For more information please see http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/cycling-guide/index.shtml

Safety Equipment

Riding with children

Use care and caution when cycling with young children who are too young to ride themselves. Keep in mind that a bicycle child seat mounted behind the bicycle seat alters your centre of gravity while riding and may increase the risk of losing balance. Take extra caution when placing and removing the child from the carrier. Never leaveyour bike unattended when a child is in the carrier.

An alternative way to carry children is to use a child bicycle trailer towed behind your bicycle. Bike trailers are stable and not prone to tipping. Most trailers are attached either directly to the bike frame or the seat post by means of a u-joint.

Be seen and heard

Because bicycles are one of the smallest vehicles on the road, it is important for cyclists to be as visible as possible to other road users at all times.

Lighting

By law your bicycle must have a white front light and a red rear light or reflector when you ride between one-half hour before sunset and one-half hour after sunrise. As pedestrians. well, the law requires white reflective strips on the front forks and red reflective strips on the rear stays.

Clothing

Clothing can improve or reduce visibility. Yellow and white stand out best at night; dark colours are difficult to see. Pedal reflectors and reflective material on wrists, ankles, heels, clothing and helmets help others see you.

Dawn and dusk

When riding directly into or away from the sun at these times, leave extra room and be ready for sudden stops or swerves by traffic around you. Be particularly alert at intersections and scan carefully.

Be heard

Bicycles are very quiet vehicles, so it is important to warn other cyclists and pedestrians of your approach. By law, all bikes must have a working bell or horn to announce your approach. At times it is just as effective and more courteous to shout something like “passing on the left” when overtaking other cyclists and pedestrians.

pedestrians.

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Over the next number of blogs we will cover Safety Equipment (Sizing, Safety Check, Helmets, Visibility), Handling Skills, Riding in Traffic (Where, Intersections, Signs and traffic signals, Dealing with trucks and buses), Obstacles and Road surfaces, Cycling and the Law and Electric Bicycles.  Stay tuned for the next few weeks as we cover some important information to keep YOU safe while cycling!

Watch for” CYCLING SKILLS (Safe Cycling)  Part 5 – Handling Skills” in the Blog on Monday, August 9th.

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The following information is taken from the Government of Ontario website and addresses “Ontario’s Guide to Safe Cycling”.  For more information please see http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/cycling-guide/index.shtml

Safety Equipment

Safety Check

Basic Bicycle Safety Checklist:

Bolts/Quick release levers

Check that bolts and/or quick release levers on the seat, seat post, handlebar stem and axles are tight.

Headset

Check that it turns freely and doesn’t rattle.

Brakes

Check that the nuts on the brakes are tight. Brake pads should not touch the rims unless you are squeezing the brakes. Brake levers should stop at least 2.5 centimetres from the handlebars when the brakes are fully applied.

Axles

Check bearings for looseness by shaking the wheel side to side. Make sure quick release levers are clamped tight.

Shift Levers

Derailleur levers should move easily only when shifting. A screw or butterfly nut or similar device lets you adjust the movement of some types of shifter levers.

Derailleur Movement

On derailleur bikes, try shifting through all your gears and make sure your derailleur does not throw the chain off the sprockets.

Tires

Inflate to the recommended tire pressure as shown on the tire.

Spokes

Check for and replace loose, bent or broken spokes.

Wheels

Make sure wheels are centred in the forks and not touching the brake blocks. Check the rim for side-to-side wobbles and up and down hops by watching the wheel spin past the brakes or frame. More than half a centimetre of wobble is cause for concern.

Coaster Brakes

Check that the bolt holding the brake arm to the frame clip is tight.

Helmet

             Make sure that your helmet meets safety standards (e.g. Snell, CSA, ANSI,   ASTM, BSI, SAA, CPSC) and has not been damaged in a collision.

Keep your bike secure

Always carry a quality bicycle lock when riding and always lock your bike and quick release items like your wheels and seat to something solid.

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Over the next number of blogs we will cover Safety Equipment (Sizing, Safety Check, Helmets, Visibility), Handling Skills, Riding in Traffic (Where, Intersections, Signs and traffic signals, Dealing with trucks and buses), Obstacles and Road surfaces, Cycling and the Law and Electric Bicycles.  Stay tuned for the next few weeks as we cover some important information to keep YOU safe while cycling!

Watch for” CYCLING SKILLS (Safe Cycling)  Part 3 – Safety Equipment -Helmets” in the Blog on Monday, August 2nd.

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The above information is taken from the Government of Ontario website and addresses “Ontario’s Guide to Safe Cycling”.  For more information please see http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/cycling-guide/index.shtml .

Cycling Skills

Ontario’s Guide to Safe Cycling

 Over the next number of blogs we will cover Safety, Equipment (Sizing, Safety Check, Helmets, Visibility), Handling Skills, Riding in Traffic (Where, Intersections, Signs and traffic signals, Dealing with trucks and buses), Obstacles and Road Surfaces, Cycling and the Law and Electric Bicycles.  Stay tuned for the next few weeks as we cover some important information to keep YOU safe while cycling!

The Ontario Cycling Association
3 Concorde Gate
Toronto, Ontario M3C 3N7
416-426-7017

The Ministry of Transportation acknowledges the Ontario Cycling Association, the Ontario CAN-BIKE Committee, City of Toronto, City Planning and the Toronto Cycling Committee for their contributions towards this publication.

Canadian Cycling Association

Cycle Canada

Toronto Cycling Committee

Citizens for Safe Cycling

For more information about cycling safety, contact:

MTO Info General Inquiry:

1-800-268-4686 or (416) 235-4686 in GTA

TTY Users:

1-866-471-8929 or (905) 704-2426 in Niagara

Website:

www.mto.gov.on.ca

For more information on the Highway Traffic Act, Statutes and Regulations of Ontario, visit www.e-laws.gov.on.ca

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Over the next number of blogs we will cover Safety Equipment (Sizing, Safety Check, Helmets, Visibility), Handling Skills, Riding in Traffic (Where, Intersections, Signs and traffic signals, Dealing with trucks and buses), Obstacles and Road surfaces, Cycling and the Law and Electric Bicycles.  Stay tuned for the next few weeks as we cover some important information to keep YOU safe while cycling!

Watch for” CYCLING SKILLS (Safe Cycling) Part 1 – Safety Equipment – Sizing” in the Blog on Monday, July 26th.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

The above information is taken from the Government of Ontario website and addresses “Ontario’s Guide to Safe Cycling”.  For more information please see http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/cycling-guide/index.shtml.

ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT in the Braun’s… is BICYCLES 85th Anniversary Sale!  Hurry in for these great specials before it is too late.  Sale ends this Saturday, June 26 at 5 p.m.  

15 – 25% OFF ALL BIKES

Also Beat the HST tax

*Shop early for best selection.  Limited quantities.  Instock only.

CLOTHING:  Purchase 1st item – get 2nd item at 1/2 price

 (includes shorts, jersey, jackets tights)                                     

CYCLING SHOES:  10% OFF 

CATEYE WIRELESS CYCLE COMPUTER:  $59.85 (Regular price $89.98)

SIGMA FRONT & REAR LIGHT SET: $18.85 (Regular price $49.98)   

BLACKBURN FLOOR PUMP:  $25.85 (Regular price $39.98)

BRAUN’S BOTTLE & ALLOY CAGE:  $8.85 (Regular price $18.98)

ONGUARD BULLDOG U-LOCK WITH CABLE: $28.85 (Regular price $49.98)

COMFORT SUPER GEL GLOVES:  $19.85 (Regular price $39.98)

PING BELL:  $5.85 (Regular price $9.98)

ULTIMATE WAIST PACK:  $19.85 (Regular price $49.98)

These are just some of the items that are on sale.  Drop into one of the stores (Kitchener or Guelph) to see all the sale items.  Open Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Have you seen the advertisements for Braun’s is BICYCLES 85th Anniversary sale?  There are some pretty amazing deals in there.  But, have you wondered how you were ever going to fit one more thing into your week and still get some riding in?  Well, check out the sale items online under Great Deals.

These Great Deals are the same sale items being offered in our 85th Anniversary sale.  BUT….you can order them online, without leaving the comfort of your own home/office.  It’s easy and quick to arrange to have the items delivered or you can pick them up in either one of our Guelph or Kitchener Stores.

This is a brand new option.  Tell us what you think of it, what you would add and if you would like to see any changes.

Thanks

Kim

Most of us are familiar with the bell brand name.  Be it motocross, race cars or of course bicycles, Bell has been making protection for your melon since 1954.

For 2010 Bell has a lot of cool new helmet designs, but one that stood out right away for me, was the Bell Sequence.

The Bell Sequence tops up Bell’s Mountain Bike category this year further narrowing the gap between the mountain race helmet and the trail bike helmet.  Bell touts the sequence as “somewhere between full-on XC racing and just riding for the huck of it” and I think that’s a pretty accurate tag line.

Being a Bell Variant and Influx owner myself, I could see a little bit of inspiration from both helmets in the Sequence with a few higher end features.

Without even putting the helmet on your head you can’t help but notice how well ventilated the  construction is, in fact, the Sequence boasts no less than 24 flow tuned vents.  This is gonna be the Cat’s meow in the summer months because the venting system will channel air around your noggen at climbing or descent speeds.