police

Last week, Toronto Police Services 11 Division sent out an email regarding a week-long bicycle safety blitz starting today. The blitz covers various parts of 11 Division, including The Junction, High Park, Roncesvalles, and Bloor West Village.

They will be cracking down on cyclists who disobey traffic rules, especially sidewalk cycling. They really made sure to spell out the details of the sidewalk cycling bylaws and how they are enforced. No word on whether they will also crack down on motorists parked in the Runnymede bike lane, joggers in the High Park bike lane, or motorists doing crazy stuff pretty much wherever they please.

You can read the text of the email below.

<

blockquote>The 11 Division Traffic Unit has received a number of community complaints related to traffic safety issues within the division. In High Park both bicycles and motor vehicles frequently speed and fail to obey stop signs within the park. Additionally, bicycles ridden on the sidewalk endangering pedestrians is a problem in Bloor West Village, The Junction and in Roncesvalles Village.

A traffic safety initiative to address these concerns comprised of both enforcement and educational components will commence on Monday 05 May 2008 and conclude on Sunday 11 May 2008. Any traffic related concerns can be directed to 11 Division’s Traffic Unit by phoning 416-808-1100.

I was sent this link this afternoon, which is of a human powered vehicle, essentially a four wheeled bike that was once a Buick Regal.

Back on Oct 25, 2007 Toronto Police Const. Derek Walsh ticketed Dean Baldwin, who was the driver of the vehicle at the time, with driving a vehicle that was "Not even close to being legal."

The charges came before the court yesterday. The judge dropped the charge because the vehicle wasn't a motor car, which meant the specific charge of operating an unsafe motor vehicle didn't legally apply.

In the news:

• Pedal-powered Buick creator heads to court National Post
• Artist wins legal battle over Flintstones car Canada.com
• 'Flintstone Car' Driver Off The Hook For Ticket CityNews

Bike Cops on Runnymede

This morning I found an article in The Bulletin about Toronto Bike Cops, titled Cops on two wheels more responsive, claims bike patroller.

It touches on many issues that most cyclists probably already know: cyclists can get around faster than motorists or pedestrians in many urban areas, people can interact better when they're on bikes rather than inside cars, and of course that cyclists are quiet and stealthy!

There's also a bit of insight into what bike cops do, how they go about their patrols, etc.

I certainly would like to see more police on bikes rather than sitting in their illegally parked idling cars. :-) I would also like to see more parking enforcement and bylaw officers on bikes too. Maybe this would help them understand cyclists' frustration with certain motorist behaviours (aggressive driving, illegal parking, etc.).

You can read the article here.

Toronto Police Services have a new 2008 Traffic Issues Survey online.

This questionnaire was designed to find out how you feel about traffic issues in Toronto, and the Toronto Police response to these issues. Your answers will be strictly confidential and your participation is appreciated.

The survey starts out by asking if you're primarily a motorist, passenger, transit user, cyclist or pedestrian. Let's get some cyclists to provide answers!

Bad Cabbie

Questions on this survey span various topics such as collisions, responses to collisions, what factors influence traffic flow, satisfaction with the police, neighbourhood issues, city-wide issues, and much more.

Please take a few moments to fill out the survey and let the Toronto Police know how cyclists feel while riding on city streets. You can answer it online until march 14th.

Monday morning update: TPS now has a press release online, in PDF format.

This email arrived on Friday January 25th via the Toronto Police Service 14th Division mailing list:

Traffic Safety continues to be an ongoing priority of the Toronto Police Service.The daily commute in and out of Toronto involves approximately 1.2 million vehicles. All users of the road share the responsibility of making this daily commute safe. A safe and orderly commute in and out of the city contributes significantly to a better quality of life for all citizens. High traffic volumes contribute to reduced road safety as well as increased driver frustration, commute times and congestion. Commuter frustration often results in aggressive driving, traffic signal violations, misuse of High Occupancy Vehicle lanes, illegal parking and general traffic gridlock. The Toronto Police Service will be initiating a zero tolerance enforcement campaign entitled "Operation – Safe Commute". The campaign will commence on Monday, 2008 January 28, and conclude on Friday, 2008 February 01. All police officers and parking enforcement officers will be paying particular attention to all infractions that impede the safe, orderly flow of traffic.

Sgt. Roy Sorgo #469014 Division, Traffic Response Unit

They will probably be issuing more tickets to motorists, pedestrians AND cyclists this week. Watch for it.

But maybe we can also take this as an opportunity to get the police to take action against motorist behaviour that endangers cyclists! Zero tolerance, right? If you see someone parked in the bike lane, call it in! Someone cuts you off? Call it in! Harassed by an aggressive driver? Call it in!

Let them know that cyclists are still out on the roads in the winter, and that we demand respect from other road users. Police should be cracking down on the people who wield the most dangerous weapons against the most vulnerable.

Keep these phone numbers with you:

• Traffic Services: 416-808-1900
• Parking Enforcement: 416-808-6600

And of course, if something ever happens to you out on the road, please consult the ARC Library for some suggestions on how to follow up.

I just came back from the 22 division's police station. I went there to have my complaint heard. Staff sergeant Glen Dewling (#2704) was good enough to listen to my complaint. He was prepared with his paperwork to hear my complaint about a specific officer. After reading my letter, he realized that it wasn't a specific officer I was complaining about, but the "we" in the officer's comment, as you'll see in the letter I wrote to them.

Glen Dewling was impressed with the letter. He did not know that sidewalk cycling was a factor in about 30% of crashes and collisions. He also did not know some other facts I presented. As he had no pre-set process or procedure or forms for handling this complaint he offered to copy and share the letter both with the Traffic Sergeant and his boss. I hope that it helps, but it is likely not enough.

My hope in publishing the letter here, I can inspire you to be better a better cyclist, a better mentor and teacher, and a better cycling advocate. And I hope that you can also share some ideas with us here to further the cause.

The letter I wrote is this:

<

blockquote>To Everyone, as it likely concerns you too;

Yesterday my daughters had their swimming lessons after school. We rode our bicycles there as it's not too far. The roads were still wet from the recent rain, and we were getting strong "skunk stripes" up our backs, but the threat of more rain had passed.

I Bike TO received this email from the Toronto Police regarding the new online registration system. Despite what she says below, if you don't have access to a computer you are probably going to the library to check your email which means you can still register your bike from there - still faster than printing off a form and bringing it your local police station.

<

blockquote>On Tuesday September 25th, Chief William Blair announced the launch of the Toronto Police Service On-line Bicycle Registration System. Within less than 48 hours, over 100 bicycles were registered on-line.

Members of the community can access the registration system from the TPS Internet home page @ www.torontopolice.on.ca. There is an icon on the right-hand side of the screen that provides a direct link to the data entry screen. Once the data is entered, an option is provided at the bottom of the page for the person to print a copy of their registration form and keep it for their records.

For those members of the community that do not have access to a computer, they can still complete a registration form contained in a revised Bicycle Registration/Theft Prevention pamphlet, and deliver it to their local station or mail it to Police Headquarters at 40 College Street. An copy of the pamphlet is available on the TPS web-site.

Police Ticket Taxi in Bike Lane

This is a followup to last week's article.

Toronto Police Services posted a press release with the results of last week's 'Safe Cycling - Share the Responsibility' campaign:

<

blockquote>

'Safe Cycling - Share the Responsibility',
Campaign update,
4,841 tickets issued

Broadcast time: 13:48
Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Traffic Services
416-808-1900

On Sunday, June 24, 2007, the Toronto Police Service concluded the one-week `Safe Cycling - Share the Responsibility' campaign. This was the third initiative undertaken as part of the Service's comprehensive traffic safety strategy, "Operation Safe Journey".

Officers issued 4,841 tickets to motorists and cyclists who were found committing offences. Of the tickets issued:

<

ul>