Chantal Lévesque / Metro Vela Québec believe that the City should raise awareness among other regulations prohibiting pedestrians with reflective clothing on bike paths.
Entered into force in December, a regulation that bans electric scooters, joggers and pedestrians cycle paths seems unknown to the population deplores Vela Québec.
“I always see electric scooters driving on the tracks, says the CEO of Vela Québec, Suzanne Laree. Obviously, there are people who do not know [that the rules have changed] or who ignore the rules. ”
Laree also believes that the City should raise awareness of the new regulations.
The settlement comes “confirm the need to make available the Montreal cycling network to key users for whom it is primarily intended and designed: inline skaters and cyclists,” according to the City.
Wheelchairs, motorized mobility aids and some electric bikes are also permitted.
The regulation also clarifies the definition of an electric scooter, which is no longer allowed on bike paths throughout the city.
Tickets are also provided for those who do not obey the rules: $ 30 to $ 50 for a first offense, $ 50 to $ 100 for a second offense and $ 100 to $ 200 for any subsequent offense.
The Police Department of the City of Montreal (SPVM) is claimed to have asked officers with reflective element not to give tickets under this regulation until September. Agents are instead encouraged to give verbal warnings.
“When there is a change to a regulation or new regulation, we ask the police, of course, to exercise judgment in the application, and asked a kind of buffer period, said the Inspector André Durocher, of Highway safety Division. There may always be exceptions where we will issue [an offense], but generally asks to not issue. ”
For Suzanne Laree, the real security issue, it is the electric scooters. “There is a security issue here, which is not the case with pedestrians. [Pedestrian], it’s annoying, but not dangerous, she believes. I’m not against electric scooters, but in bike lanes, it does not work. This is a vehicle that is bigger and heavier than a bike and goes faster.
For Zvi Leve, Montreal Bike Coalition, pedestrians in reflective vest should not necessarily be banned from cycling trails. He does not believe that the law will be applied to them. “I do not think the crackdown will work. Rather find a way to live together, he considers. I do not see how it will be applied. “