Cycling

Information related to cycling.

Q&A - Straight Through for Bicycles Only

CyclistQUESTION: Eastbound on Point Grey at Alma there are two bike lanes on the north side of the street that are allowed to cross Alma without stopping. Cars eastbound on Point Grey must turn either right or left, and there is a curb/diverter on the far side to prevent them going straight through.

Cars northbound on Alma face a stop sign, and one option is to turn right through the diverter.

The Role of Law Enforcement in Supporting Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety: An Idea Book

Ticket WriterThe Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center has released an idea book for law enforcement personnel to assist them in supporting pedestrian and bicycle safety. It is a collection of case studies from around the US that shares programs and practices implemented in communities and explains their impact.

Q&A - Cyclist Failed to Yield

Yield to Bicycles SignQuestion: I was driving at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and the Cambie Street on ramp in Vancouver. I turned right on a green light to head onto Cambie Street. I did not have to yield to any pedestrians as they were being held by the pedestrian signal. I moved about 20 feet into turn and my car was struck on the passenger side by a bicyle rider doing full speed.

CASE LAW - Long v Thanas

BC Courts Coat of ArmsKristian Thanas was riding his bicycle southbound in a marked cycling lane on Burrard Street in Vancouver. He noticed a car driven by Joseph Long traveling alongside him with it's right turn signal on as they approached the intersection of Pacific Avenue. Mr. Thanas thought that Mr. Long had neglected to cancel his signal as a right turn at the intersection was not permitted.

Advisory Bike Lanes

Question MarkQuestion: Currently the City of Victoria is bringing in new advisory bike lanes. I can find nothing in the drivers license training or BC Motor Vehicle Act that gives a legal driving approach to these type of lanes or trains new and old drivers to manage these lanes? Please advise where this is covered in driver training.

CASE LAW - R v Ghadban

BC Courts Coat of ArmsAli Ghadban was convicted in traffic court for not having a valid driver's licence and for driving without insurance for operating a Motorino XMr on the road in Surrey, B.C. He appealed his conviction on the ground that the Motorino was a motor assisted cycle (MAC) and he was excluded from the requirements to be licensed and insured while operating it.

Traffic Circle Collision

image of a traffic circleThis case involves a cyclist, Javad Behragam, and a pickup truck driver, Peter Paviglianiti. The two collided in a traffic circle at West 10th Avenue and Birch Street in Vancouver. The trial was held to determine who was liable for the collision, the cyclist or the driver.

Keeping Cyclists Safe

painted cycle laneResearch by Dr. Ben Beck at Australia's Monash University collected data on 60 cyclists in Melbourne who rode their bicycles with a custom device (the 'MetreBox') installed to quantify the distance that motor vehicle drivers provide when passing them. More than 18,000 vehicle passing events from 422 trips were recorded.