CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - Charlottetown’s deputy mayor wants police to start cracking down on cyclists who don’t obey the rules of the road.
Mike Duffy, who also serves as the chairman of the city’s sustainable and environment committee that handles cycling, even goes so far as to suggest that maybe it’s time to require cyclists to register and display a licence plate.
“We’re trying to develop a city that is known for cycling . . . but we can’t do that if we’re going to have people riding bicycles and not obeying the rules of the road,’’ Duffy said. “The rules of the road are for both cyclists and motorists.’’
Duffy raised the point during city council’s public monthly meeting this month, asking Coun. Jason Coady, chairman of protective and emergency services, to take the matter under advisement.
“We’re trying to develop a city that is known for cycling . . . but we can’t do that if we’re going to have people riding bicycles and not obeying the rules of the road. The rules of the road are for both cyclists and motorists.’’
Deputy Mayor Mike Duffy
Duffy said there are countless numbers of cyclists who use the sidewalk, go through crosswalks when someone is crossing, go the wrong way on a one-way street and go through red lights.
“I’m of the mind that we can’t enforce anything until we identify the people that are breaking the laws,’’ he said, noting that maybe the solution is to require bikes to display a licence plate or for the rider to be registered with an identificable number on his or her helmet.
“When there’s a violation you can tell the police that it’s such and such who would have a registration and they can hunt the person down. He’s not going to drive away, literally, and get off scot-free.’’
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Duffy said police have to start cracking down on cyclists riding without a helmet on.
“If a cyclist doesn’t have a helmet on, I wouldn’t be averse to having the police put the bike in the back of the car and we’ll see you later. We’ve got to start being serious about this thing.’’
The sustainability chairman said it doesn’t matter how many cycling trails, routes and paths the city creates if people don’t feel safe on them.
“The number one deterrent to keeping people off the streets for cycling is the safety factor. They’re scared they’re going to get hurt, so we have to do everything in our power to help them; the assurance and protection that things will be as safe as they can be and punish the offenders.’’
Duffy also noted that police should recognize proper cycling behaviour by, for example, handing out gift certificates to those who wear helmets and observe the rules of the road.
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