@TorontoPolice 'S.P.A.C.E. To CYCLE' Safety Campaign

The City of Toronto has seen a dramatic shift in how people traverse the city every day. With a growing population and ever increasing congestion on City streets, road users are increasingly changing their mode of transportation from cars to bicycles. The City has started making changes to policy and infrastructure to help cyclists move around more efficiently, and more safely, while encouraging an active transportation model. On Monday, June 12, the Toronto Police Service is kicking off the S.P.A.C.E. to Cycle Campaign, SPACE stands for Safety, Prevention, Awareness, Courtesy, and Education. This campaign is launched in support of the 'Vision Zero' Mandate in partnership with the City of Toronto. Cyclists face many dangers on the road, some of the dangers that cyclists face from drivers who disregard the rules and put cyclists in danger are · Dooring, · vehicles parked in bicycle tracks or bike lanes · drivers who are not using the '1 meter rule' around cyclists 58 dooring incidents have occurred in Toronto so far this year. Drivers have a responsibility to ensure that it is safe to open a door when exiting their vehicles. Some tips to help minimize the chances of dooring occurring is for drivers to use the right hand reach to open the door, this allows the driver full view of the rear view mirror and will help to ensure the driver is aware of any cyclists approaching their vehicle. Cyclists as approaching a parked vehicle should scan the inside of the vehicle for any occupants whom could be in a position to open the door and use a horn or bell to warn the vehicle occupants that they are approaching, cyclists should also have an escape route and leave approximately 1 meter around parked vehicle, this will help to reduce the chances of a dooring incident occurring. Vehicles which park in bicycle lanes or straddle the areas between the bicycle lanes and driven lanes will face a $150.00 fine, this behaviour puts all cyclists at risk and we have seen far too many dooring incidents occur as a result of this behaviour by drivers. Cyclists moving through the area in bicycle lanes expect to do so safely, you the driver have a responsibility to respect cyclists and their right to be on the road. Drivers who crowd the lanes or fail to give cyclist the necessary space around their bicycles puts all cyclists at risk. Too often we have seen serious or fatal collisions occur on City streets where that 1 meter space would have prevented a collision between a cyclist and a vehicle, do your part, make room for cyclists, they aren’t going anywhere, in fact the number of cyclists are increasing year over year. Helmets, although not mandatory like a bell or horn, or reflectors on a bicycle, play an important part in keeping you, the cyclist, safe. Help reduce the chances of a fatal injury by wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle - it is just common sense, and the smart thing to do.