Riding your bike this fall? Put safety first!
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Cycling tips for the autumn season
Cycling is a great way to get around and be active, even in the fall! But with shorter daylight hours and unpredictable weather conditions, the City of Vaughan is reminding autumn riders to put safety first. Being prepared is the best way to bike responsibly. This means ensuring bikes are equipped with proper lighting, wearing reflective gear, dressing for the weather and slowing down if warranted.
Bike safety protocols apply to all – from experienced cyclists to those riding for the first time. As a bicycle is considered a vehicle under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act (HTA), cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities to obey all traffic laws as other road users. This includes wearing a helmet if under the age of 18 and having the following on their bike:
- white reflective tape on the front forks
- red reflective tape on the rear forks
- a white front light
- a red rear light or reflector
- a working bell or horn
When sharing space with pedestrians, cyclists should:
- keep to the right.
- pass on the left when safe to do so.
- yield to pedestrians.
- let pedestrians know they are approaching with a friendly greeting or by ringing a bell or horn.
When riding along or on the road, cyclists must:
- travel in the same direction as motorists.
- obey traffic lights and stop signs.
- signal all turns using hand signals.
eBIKES
Micromobility devices that are motorized – such as e-scooters, golf carts, Segways, electric skateboards, hoverboards and other motorized personal vehicles – should not be used on sidewalks, cycle tracks, shared pedestrian and bike paths or recreational trails in the city. Exemptions apply to those who require motorized wheelchairs and medical devices to get around. People operating motorized medical devices are treated in the same way as pedestrians on foot and are permitted on sidewalks, paths and trails. To report unsafe micromobility sightings, citizens can contact Access Vaughan by phone at 905-832-2281 or email at accessvaughan@vaughan.ca with the date, location and nature of the incident. The City is tracking these cases to inform future safety measures. Citizens can also report concerns of micromobility device usage on public roadways to York Regional Police through the non-emergency phone line at 1-866-876-5423 or through the online form at yrp.ca. Explore vaughan.ca/micromobility to learn more about motorized micromobility devices in Vaughan.
VAUGHAN’S CYCLING AND MULTI-USE RECREATIONAL TRAILS NETWORK
Vaughan is home to a growing network of sidewalks, cycle tracks, bike lanes, multi-use paths and recreational trails, and the City continues to proactively advance active transportation by offering a full range of options to get around – including by bike. Some of these projects include the 2020 Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan Update, the Vaughan Super Trail, the Clark Avenue bike paths, the expansion of the Humber Trail system, closing gaps on the Bartley Smith Greenway, the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC) Cycling Network Plan and more. A comprehensive update on all of these projects is outlined in this year’s Active Transportation Annual Report.
The current cycling and multi-use recreational trails network in Vaughan is growing and consists of the following main types of cycling facilities:
- Cycle tracks: designated space for cyclists that are physically separate from pedestrians and motorists. These areas are marked with a bicycle symbol and diamond.
- Bike lanes: designated space for cyclists that are separate from pedestrians, but run along the same road as motorists. These areas are made visible with payment markings.
- Multi-use pathways: shared space for pedestrians and cyclists that are separate from motorists. These areas are within the boulevard along a roadway.
- Multi-use recreational trails: shared space for pedestrians and cyclists found within parks and open spaces.
For more information, visit vaughan.ca/cycling. Vaughan cycling facilities are also included in the York Region Cycling Map.