During the evening hours of October 1st, 2nd, and 3rd members of the Guelph Police Traffic Services Unit conducted a bicycle light education initiative on the Gordon Street corridor between Wellington Street and College Avenue. During this initiative, officers issued fourteen Provincial Offence tickets for the Highway Traffic Act offence of improper bicycle lighting. The set fine for this offence is $35. The tickets were issued as warnings with the provision that they would be cancelled if the recipient attended at the Guelph Police Service having equipped their bicycle with proper lighting in compliance with the Highway Traffic Act.
Cyclists are required to display a white or amber light to the front and have a red light or reflector to the rear during the period one half hour before sunset to one half hour after sunrise.
The officers involved in this specific initiative took the position that it was more important for the cyclists to spend their money on safety equipment rather than fines.
Enforcement initiatives will continue in an effort to decrease the number of cyclist/motor vehicle collisions.