December 4, 2024

The Queens County Citizen

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Fines for electric bikes: Are police resources invested in the right place, asks Velo Quebec?

Fines for electric bikes: Are police resources invested in the right place, asks Velo Quebec?

The number of fines for wearing an electric bike helmet has increased by 70% in Montreal, but it's an increase that doesn't worry Vélo Quebec, even if the organization questions the relevance of this increased surveillance.

• Also Read: Electric bike: Criticism of mandatory wearing of helmet

“If you say so [que les policiers sont] Focusing on cyclists at the expense of other road users […] We have to question whether we are putting police resources in the right place,” says Magali Bebronne, director of programs at Velo Quebec.

TVA News

Besides, Ms. Bebronne said in an interview on LCN that “current trends” indicate that pedestrians are “more and more victims of collisions with motorized vehicles”.

Wearing a helmet while riding an electric bike, some of which can easily reach speeds of more than 30 km/h, is mandatory under the Road Safety Code.

Bixi users who take blue electric bikes are therefore prohibited from riding without a helmet.

According to a spokesperson for Vélo Québec, about 20% of cyclists' violations concern wearing a helmet.

Ms. Bebron said “If you don't put a little less force on the helmet and respect the pedestrian's right of way, around school or town buses or any priority pedestrian crossings .

“In my opinion and in our opinion, at Velo Quebec, we must ensure that we do not endanger other road users, especially the most vulnerable, and therefore pedestrians,” said the guest.

Watch Magali Bebron's interview in the video above.

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