Veteran cyclists and newbies alike may consider themselves lucky for not receiving some hefty fines during Bike to Work Week.
There is a long list of cycling-related offences, many of which are commonly seen on Vancouver Island streets.
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Riding side-by-side with other cyclists, riding without a helmet, riding with no hands on the handlebars, and more are all offences that can be fined.
There are two categories which define the offences and their fines; the Motor Vehicle Act, which the police use, and city bylaws, which bylaw enforcement officers use.
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Common cycling infractions and their fines in the City of Victoria include:
- Riding the bike on a sidewalk - Police $109 / City $50
- Failure to ride a bike on the right side - Police $109 / City $60
- Riding without a hand on the handlebar - Police $109
- Riding without a helmet - Police $29
- Careless cycling- Police $109 / City $60
- Riding the bike on a crosswalk - Police $109/ $60
- Riding the bike with both legs on one side - Police $109
- Riding a bike while attached to a vehicle - Police $109
- Carrying passengers on a bike - Police $109
- Riding after dark without lights- Police $109
Bylaw fines vary from community to community but if you have to have a fine from someone, the bylaw infractions are generally less expensive. Luckily, a person can’t be charged with both fines for the same offences.
Both bylaw enforcement officers and police officers typically take an educational approach and issue warnings before issuing any fines, unless they are more dangerous offences.
Victoria Police spokesperson Const. Matt Rutherford said that moving offences, such as the failure to stop at a stop sign, going through red lights and not wearing a helmet would definitely get a fine.
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