With June being the official month of all things bicycle in Canmore, the local RCMP detachment is taking the opportunity to remind the public about bike safety laws in effect.
Sgt. Ryan Currie said it is important the community is aware of the rights and responsibilities of being a cyclist or motorist on public roadways.
“We will be out doing somewhat of an enforcement and education piece as well,” Currie said. “We are going to have members out on bikes and some on foot throughout town and promote safe practices and operations and discuss road use regulations and if there are infractions, there may be enforcement action taken as well.”
On Sunday (June 19), RCMP performed bicycle safety awareness checkpoints throughout Canmore with the purpose of promoting best practices for the safe operation of bicycles.
Currie said there is confusion in the general public about what rules those riding bikes need to follow, but the legislation is quite clear.
“Under the Traffic Safety Act for Alberta, bicycles are to act as motor vehicles and to follow all the same rules of the road,” he said.
For example, cyclists are to ride on the right hand shoulder of a road if available and close to the right curb if there is no shoulder. Cyclists should also be riding single file and cannot impede or block the normal flow of traffic.
“Someone cycling up Benchlands Trail, for example, with traffic not being able to pass them – that is not appropriate,” Currie said. “You cannot impede or block the normal flow of traffic.
“If someone believes they have the right to cycle in the middle of the roadway, that is not true.”
He said cyclists riding at night must have a headlamp and taillight on their bike, everyone under the age of 18 must wear a helmet and bicycles should not be ridden through crosswalks. In Canmore, only children under the age of 12 years old and adults accompanying them are permitted to ride on sidewalks. The only exception is when signage indicates bikes must be walked, like on Main Street.
“There is nowhere in the Traffic Safety Act that says a vehicle must yield to a cyclist, as a cyclist must act as motor vehicle and follow the rules of the road,” he said, adding that includes stopping at traffic signals like stop signs.
“At a crosswalk, only pedestrians have the right of way over vehicles, not bikes. If you are riding a bike, you are not a pedestrian. If you get off your bike you are and that is the only time a vehicle needs to yield.”
Currie said with cycling increasing in popularity there are more bikes on the roads and trails, so education about responsibilities is important.
