On Friday, a truck driver entered a protected bike lane and struck a cyclist. Another cyclist saw it happen and posted it on Instagram.
“Today, a cyclist was hit by a truck just 100 meters from me on the Bayview bike lane; yes, literally inside the closed bike lane! The driver, from out of town, appeared to have lost his navigation and ended up in the bike lane. The cyclist collided with the driver’s side mirror and crashed. 911 was called and an ambulance arrived at the scene. A police officer also arrived later and documented the incident. He accused the driver of entering the bike lane. Fortunately, the injury was not serious and he chose not to go to a nearby hospital. We need laws to protect us from these recurring incidents. “
The bike lanes are for bicycles
Drivers deviating into bike lanes is something that many cyclists see too often. But these particular bike lanes are separated from the road. There are large blocks of cement to prevent it exactly.
Why do so many car drivers use dedicated bike lanes?
Parking on bike lanes is also a big issue in Toronto. In 2021, parking officers will issue 16,942 tickets for drivers obstructing bike lanes in Toronto. This was an increase of 125 percent compared to 2020. There are only a few times when cars are allowed on bike lanes:
- Enter or leave a private lane or driveway adjacent to the bike lane.
- Turn right onto a road that crosses the bike lane.
- Enter or exit a sidewalk lane used for parking.
- Uploading or downloading a person with a disability, while actively engaging in it.
- Driving a school bus while actively picking up or dropping off schoolchildren.
- Operate a taxi while actively engaged in loading or unloading passengers
Of course, there is absolutely no right time to drive on a protected bike lane.