protection for cyclists

New protections to better protect cyclists and other vulnerable road users

Apr 10, 2024 | 1:56 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — The provincial government has rolled out new rules in order to better protect cyclists and other vulnerable road users, including new regulations that will require drivers to take precautions when interacting with cyclists.

New safe passing distance regulations will establish a new minimum distance of 1 metre that drivers must maintain when passing cyclists and other vulnerable road users, and that distance will increase to 1.5 metres on highways with a posted speed limit of 50 km/h.

Neil Hodgson, store manager of Cycle Logic and a cyclist himself, says that the protections are needed not just on our provincial highways, but on all roadways.

“The protection is needed everywhere. It isn’t just a matter about being on highways … Giving us a legally mandated distance, I think is important, should there be an incident.” – Neil Hodgson

People 14 and older will able to use a nw class of e-bikes with age appropriate safety precautions, including less power, lower maximum speeds and motors that only operate with pedalling.

B.C. Minister of Transportation Rob Fleming says that “these new regulations will keep people safer on our roads and encourage even more use of active transportation. Fleming mentioned that these new regulations are “another step in modernizing our rules to keep up with new technologies that are changing how people are getting around.”

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X: @AdamBerls

Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com