On December 8, the new Minister of Transport, André Fortin, tabled his bill on road safety. For Vélo Québec, this bill throws the foundations of a promising future, But there's still a certain reluctance. Take, for example, the principle of prudence, which recognizes the vulnerability of pedestrians and cyclists. It's simple: the heavier ones are told to take care of the smaller ones. The problem is that, at the end of this proposed article, the ball is thrown back to pedestrians and cyclists by asking them to adopt behaviours that promote their safety, in particular by making sure they are seen by other road users... An addition that contradicts the initial principle!
At the parliamentary committee meeting we'll be attending on February 6, we'll of course be stressing the importance of preserving the full meaning of the precautionary principle. We will also reiterate our support for :
- the end of demerit points for certain cycling offences, an injustice that Vélo Québec has been denouncing for 20 years;
- new provisions to regularize the creation of bike lanes and shared streets in Quebec municipalities, a measure that will speed up their implementation.
We will also come back to some unsuccessful proposals. For example, on the importance of allowing cyclists to use pedestrian lights to cross intersections: this would represent a real gain in safety for cyclists, by giving them the opportunity to leave the intersection before cars and heavy vehicles. On the question of the significant increase in fines, we will argue, as we have done previously, for penalties that are proportionate to the danger to others.
Vélo Québec's 50th anniversary year ends on a positive note: cycling in Quebec is on the rise. But there's still a lot of work to be done to improve conditions. Vélo Québec is keeping a close eye on things, but it's by combining our efforts with your support that we'll be able to achieve the best for cyclists. I therefore invite you to send us your comments on bill 165 by visiting the Transport and Environment Committee section of the French National Assembly website.
On behalf of the entire Vélo Québec team, I wish you an excellent start to 2018.
Suzanne Lareau
President and General Manager
