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Progress Through Participation

Halton Regional Police Service

Share the Road

Halton Regional Police Service

Who is responsible?

Under the Highway Traffic Act, bicycles are considered vehicles.

Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists do.

Education is important for all road and path users including motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.

“Share the Road” is a lesson that makes roadways safer and more efficient for both motorists and cyclists.

April 18, 2023

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Halton Regional Police Service

The Law

• As mentioned, a bicycle is a vehicle under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act:

• HTA Sec. 1(1)

• “vehicle” includes a motor vehicle, trailer, traction engine, farm tractor, road building machine, bicycle and any vehicle drawn, propelled or driven by any kind of power, including muscular power, but does not include a motorized snow vehicle or a street car”.

• “driver” means a person who drives a vehicle on a highway

April 18, 2023

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Halton Regional Police Service

The Law continued• The following are key sections of the HTA

concerning cyclists:

• HTA 144/136 – Traffic Signals and Signs

• HTA 142 – Signalling a Turn

• HTA 175(12) – Stopped School Buses

• HTA 218(1) – Cyclist to identify self

April 18, 2023

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Halton Regional Police Service

The Law Continued

• HTA 147 – Slow Moving Traffic travel on Right Side

• HTA 148(4) – Vehicles meeting Bicycles

• HTA 148(5) – Vehicles overtaking others

• HTA 148(6) – Bicycles Overtaken

• The above four sections, deal with the issue of cyclists travelling in packs and two or more abreast.

April 18, 2023

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Halton Regional Police Service

By-Laws

• The Highway Traffic Act does not prevent cyclists from riding two abreast, HOWEVER, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills and have a By-Law that does not permit the riding of bicycles two-abreast:

• Burlington Traffic By-Law 86-2007 8(b)• Milton Traffic By-Law 13-91• Halton Hills By-Law 84-1

• “ No person shall ride a bicycle on any highway abreast of another bicycle except in the course of passing the other bicycle”

April 18, 2023

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Halton Regional Police Service

“Pack Riding”

• Bike clubs/cycling groups are known to ride in teams and may form what is referred to as a “paceline”

• Oval form – riding two abreast• This tempo ride would not be an infraction of the

By-Law due to the riders continuously rotating around the oval formation, overtaking each other.

April 18, 2023

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Halton Regional Police Service

Pack Riding

Every Rider must still obey the rules of the road and when being overtaken by a vehicle travelling at a greater speed, shall turn out to the right and allow the vehicle to pass.

April 18, 2023

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Halton Regional Police Service

Our Responsibility

• Bicycles and motor vehicles have the responsibility to obey all traffic laws outlined in the Ontario Highway Traffic Act and drivers of the respective vehicles who disobey traffic laws will be subject to a minimum set fine and victim surcharge.

April 18, 2023

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