THE West Vancouver Police Department is issuing a warning to cyclists: Just because youre on two wheels, it doesnt mean youre not subject to the same rules of the road and enforcement as drivers.
With summer weather, there are more cyclists on the roads.
Unfortunately, rising complaints to West Vancouver police indicate many members of the cycling community disregard the very traffic rules designed to protect them, a WVPD press release states.
The police department reminds cyclists that under the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act, a person on a bicycle has the same rights and duties as a vehicle driver and is subject to the same tickets and fines.
Some of the infractions and fines unruly cyclists may be looking at include: failure to ride on the right side of a roadway and failure to ride single file at $109, disobeying a stop sign or traffic control at $167 and $121, respectively, and failure to ride without a helmet which will get you dinged for $29.
West Vancouver police patrol and traffic section members encourage cyclists and all road users to proceed lawfully and safely to minimize risks of collision, injury or worse, the release states. We remind all cyclists they can and will be subject to appropriate enforcement like any other road user.
Brent Richter
