Cycling in Waterloo Region

[danbrotherston]

Did anyone catch that cyclist dashcam video on Reddit yesterday? OP just posted an update claiming WRPS told them the cyclist was completely at fault because it's a "shared lane" and cyclists aren't allowed to pass cars on the right when there isn't a bike lane, and that "helmet charges are at officer's discretion". They also deleted the video and refused to clarify whether they activated their turn signal before right hooking the cyclist, who had just nearly been run off the road by another driver.

https://www.reddit.com/r/waterloo/commen...near_batl/

Luckily I saved a copy of the video. You may have to turn on the audio, but it sure sounds like they didn't signal their turn.

https://i.imgur.com/qUOEkyX.mp4

Yeah, I did see that. The question of passing on the right used to be clear (bike lane: YES, shared lane: NO), but now that cyclists can use the "shoulder" legally, it's a lot less clear, when does something become a shoulder--although this lack of clarity at least means the law matches reality.

Of course, the claim that helmet charges are at police discrection really throws doubt on everything, given that there is no legal requirement to wear a helmet.