Summer brings bike safety concerns

So Station 12 police officers, along with their counterparts across the city, have been gearing up to get cyclists to travel safely.

They launched their annual bicycle campaign a couple of weeks ago, warning cyclists and drivers in Westmount about their bad habits. Now they're handing out tickets — and each infraction could net you between $37 and $274 in fines.

The good news is that, according to recent stats released by the police department, fewer Montreal cyclists are dying on the roads, from a peak of five in 2006 to two last year. Reports of minor injuries also dropped some 14 per cent from 769 in 2007 to 665 in 2008. Still, serious injuries were up last year, to 34 from 27 in 2007.

The majority of biking accidents happen when either the cyclist blows through a red light, doesn't respect traffic signals or when a motorist doesn't give a cyclist the right of way at intersections.

Station 12's Adalbert Pimentel says he often sees cyclists hit by car doors as drivers suddenly opening their car doors without looking.

Police are also cracking down on cycling transgressions like driving the wrong way on a one-way street, riding on the sidewalk, or biking with headphones.

Pimentel warned that some infractions, such as a cyclist running a red light or a driver not leaving enough space on the right for a bike to pass, will cost the motorist or the biker demerit points on their license along with a fine.

Safe cycling means wearing a helmet, traveling in single file and signalling your intention to drivers, Pimentel added.

He also warns that the trendy new electric bicycles also come with their own set of rules. Cyclists between 14 and 17 can only use them if they have a moped license and wear a helmet. Anyone over 18 can ride them without a license but must also wear a helmet.