(MIDDLESEX CENTRE, ON) – On September 15, 2015 at approximately 8:15 a.m., the Middlesex County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a motor vehicle collision involving a bicycle.
A bicycle travelling northbound on Wonderland Road struck the passenger side of a grey Dodge pickup truck, in the intersection of Nine Mile Road. The pickup truck was travelling eastbound on Nine Mile Road. Nine Mile Road is governed by stop signs.
The bicyclist, a 31-year-old male from Toronto, Ontario, was transported to hospital by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries.
The pickup truck driver, a 45-year-old male from London, Ontario, was not injured. He was charged with failing to yield to traffic on through highway, contrary to the Highway Traffic Act (HTA).
New cycling changes following the passing of Bill 31 – Transportation Statute Law Amendment Act (Making Ontario Roads Safer) became effective on September 1, 2015, including: a new one-meter passing law; increased penalties for dooring offences; increased fines for non-compliance with bicycle light, reflector and reflective material requirements; and cyclists are permitted to use lamps that produce intermittent flashes of red light.
“Cyclists must have proper lights, reflective materials and reflectors on their bicycles (and that includes e-bikes) and motor-assisted bicycle (mopeds). HTA s62(17) says: When on a highway at any time from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres or less, every motor-assisted bicycle and bicycle (other than a unicycle) shall carry a lighted lamp displaying a white or amber light on its front and a lighted lamp displaying a red light or a reflector on its rear, and in addition white reflective material shall be placed on its front forks, and red reflective material covering a surface of not less than 250 millimetres in length and 25 millimetres in width shall be placed on its rear.”
For more information, please visit the Ministry of Transportation website at http://www.mto.gov.on.ca