Cyclists concerned over WRPS safety video

Regional Police are getting some flak for a public safety video – all about cycling.

The video was posted to social media on Wednesday and since its release, the comments keep piling up – with many advocates sharing concerns.

That includes the Chair of CycleWR, Emily Slofstra.

She says the video started out ‘alright’, as officers were highlighting some general safety measures.

“But then it showed an officer riding on the far right, and stated that cyclists should keep to the far right. That may be the case in some situations, on some roads – but on the road where the officer was riding, which was downtown Kitchener on King Street, there are ‘sharrows’ on that road – and that’s a situation where cyclists can easily take a lane, like in the middle of the road, so they can avoid any hazards that might be found in other parts of the roadway,” explains Slofstra. “So in this case, the officer was in the far right, almost in the gutter – and really the officer could’ve been taking a lane, and I think that was a missed opportunity to show cyclists and drivers how to share the road appropriately.”

Slofstra says her group has reached out to WRPS about their concerns.

“We have some contacts that also have e-mailed, but we haven’t been able to get a response yet.”

She says the goal and hope is that police will respond, and work with CycleWR to improve the video – or make a new one.

On Friday, WRPS posted another cycling video to their Twitter as part of their #CareToShare campaign – which did not include the same imagery, or wording.

Speaking with 570 NEWS – Inspector Michael Haffner says WRPS are very concerned about road safety in our Region.

“Since June is Waterloo Region Bike Safety Month – we decided to put out some safety messages regarding cycling. The first video has five specific tips in relation to cyclists and their use of the road, and the second video was five tips for motorists when coming across a cyclist during their travels. These messages were simply put out to provide safety messages as we are concerned about road safety, and we want everyone to #CareToShare.”

Haffner also addressed the concerns from the local cycling community regarding the first video.

“From an organizational perspective, we understand people may have opinions in relation to our messaging. But really, this is safety messaging that was constructed with the use of the Highway Traffic Act. People seemed to be concerned about the one message that cyclists must move to the right side of the road. Really, that’s Section 147 of the HTA – which says a slower moving vehicle shall move to the right as soon as practicable, and as safely as practicable, so other vehicles can overtake them or pass them.”

Haffner says the messages WRPS put out are NOT just for urban centres, but also our rural areas.

“A number of cyclists travel on our country roads where there are no designated bike lanes, or areas where cyclists are allowed to maintain an area of the roadway. This is an opportunity for some safety messaging because we’re all concerned and trying to minimize, and eliminate, and opportunities for collisions between cyclists and motor vehicles.”

Haffner says their video was never meant to create controversy, and was simply a safety message based on the Highway Traffic Act.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today