As ghost bikes (marking the site of a cycling death) multiply around Toronto, the Ministry of Transportation has announced its plans to respond to the Chief Coroner of Ontario's "Cycling Death Review". Comments on EBR posting 011-7552 are invited until January 31, 2013. As a first step, MTO plans to replace its 20 year old Bicycle Policy with a new Cycling Strategy, including:
- Providing the purchasers of bicycles with cycling safety information,
- Initiating a separate consultation on legislative and/or regulatory changes, which are likely to include cycling on paved shoulders, mandatory helmets, and mandatory side guards for trucks;
- Public education for drivers and cyclists, in collaboration with road safety organizations,
- Updating the Driver Handbooks to enhance the safety of all road users, including cyclists,
- Reviewing and updating the Highway Traffic Act to improve cycling safety, and
- Leading the identification of a province-wide cycling network.
Earlier this year, the Chief Coroner recommended:
- Adoption of a "complete streets" approach – focused on the safety of all road users – to guide the redevelopment of existing communities and the design of new communities throughout Ontario.
- Development of an Ontario Cycling Plan to guide the development of policy, legislation and regulations and the commitment of infrastructure funding to support cycling in Ontario.
- A comprehensive cycling safety public awareness and education strategy, starting in public schools, and continuing through the purchase of every new and used bicycle and through driver's license testing.
- Legislative change (Highway Traffic Act (HTA); Municipal Act; relevant Municipal By-Laws) aimed at ensuring clarity and consistency regarding interactions between cyclists and other road users.
- Strategies to promote and support helmet use for cyclists of all ages.
- Implementation of mandatory helmet legislation for cyclists of all ages, within the context of an evaluation of the impact of this legislation on cycling activity.
- Establishment of a "one-meter" rule for vehicles when passing cyclists.
- Prioritizing the development of paved shoulders on provincial highways.
- Mandatory side-guards for heavy trucks.
- Enforcement, education and public safety activities targeted to the specific issues of cycling safety identified in a given community.
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