In a year where we’ve seen a war on bike lanes in Toronto, maybe it shouldn’t be surprising that readers asked us so many questions about rules for cyclists and how drivers and cyclists should interact.
The answers weren’t always simple. They showed how complicated – and dangerous for cyclists – it can be when cars and bikes share the same spaces, road safety experts say.
Of course, you asked plenty of other questions, too, but they often shared a theme: taking responsibility for safety on the road.
Here are some of the most popular questions we answered in 2024:
When I’m making a right turn, should bikes be passing me on the right?
When there’s no bike lane, the law says cyclists shouldn’t be passing right-turning cars on the right. But when there is a bike lane, it depends on whether there’s a solid or dotted line on the road.
“This issue has been at times confusing to both cyclists and drivers and can have extremely dangerous consequences for the cyclist,” said Patrick Brown, a lawyer who specializes in cycling-related cases.
Are cyclists supposed to walk their bikes in a crosswalk?
In most places, the law says to get off your bike and walk it across a crosswalk. But some cities, including Edmonton, have some specially marked crosswalks meant for both pedestrians and bikes – and cyclists are allowed to ride in them.
“The law is pretty clear, and I think it’s a surprise to many cyclists,” said Scott Butler, the executive director of Good Roads, a road advocacy and research group. “I think the other bigger [issue] really is ensuring that we’re putting in place infrastructure that allows people to cycle safely.”
Should cars be passing me on the right?
In most provinces, drivers are allowed to pass you on the right – as long as it’s safe. But when they do, it might be a sign that you’re in the wrong lane.
“If you’re in the left lane and you’re being passed, that means you’re not travelling at the normal speed of traffic on the highway – and you should be moving to the right lane,” said Constable Scott Stratton, a spokesman for the Ontario Provincial Police Highway Safety Division.
Can I get a ticket just because my phone is in the cupholder?
While the rules vary by province, you generally have to be holding, touching or looking at a phone to get a distracted driving ticket.
Most provinces’ distracted driving laws specifically address hand-held device use – and that doesn’t usually include the big, distracting screen in your car – although you could face careless driving charges if fiddling with Spotify causes a crash.
Are groups of cyclists allowed to take up a lane?
Although most provinces ban bikes riding side by side, Ontario allows it – as long as the bikes don’t block traffic.
In fact, it might be safer for cyclists to ride in packs.
“I think any cyclist would probably tell you that they have to anticipate people making illegal turns, people not giving one metre, people not following the rules,” Brown said. “Some drivers would say that some cyclists do the same thing, but there’s a power imbalance of size, weight and speed. A cyclist could die or get seriously injured … and the driver of the car gets maybe a small ding on their vehicle, a small fine and goes home.”
Can I get in trouble for tapping the brakes when someone is tailgating me?
Hitting the brakes to send a tailgater a message could cause a crash – and, depending on the province, you could face charges including careless driving.
If you’re being tailgated, the best thing to do is let them get in front of you.
“Over one-third of all crashes are rear-enders,” said Angelo DiCicco, general manager with the Ontario Safety League. “If someone is following you closely, encourage them to go away.”
Are bikes or e-bikes ever allowed to be ridden on the sidewalk?
The rules vary by city and province, but, in most places, riding any bike on the sidewalk is banned.
“It’s a major problem with food service delivery,” said Sean Shapiro, a retired constable with the traffic services division of the Toronto Police Service. “[Cyclists on sidewalks] are putting pedestrians and other people who need that space at risk.”
Drivers are licensed, so why aren’t cyclists?
Bike licensing schemes are expensive to run and they discourage people from cycling, a city planning expert said.
“Every city that has looked at [schemes like this] says it costs too much to run … If your actual goal is to have less people on bikes and more people in cars, then it would succeed,” said Brent Toderian, a Vancouver-based city planning consultant.
Do drivers have to wait for pedestrians to reach the other side of a crosswalk?
In Alberta, drivers can’t legally go until the pedestrian has reached the other side of any crosswalk.
But, in every province, it’s wise for drivers to let pedestrians finish crossing, safety experts said.
“Always err on the side of caution and wait for pedestrians to completely finish crossing the road before entering the intersection,” said Kristine D’Arbelles, a Canadian Automobile Association spokeswoman. “Think of a child who drops their mitten halfway and runs back to get it.”
How much over the speed limit can I go before getting a ticket?
If you’re going one kilometre an hour over the limit, police could hand you a ticket – but they probably won’t.
“I know it’s clichéd to say this as a cop, but don’t speed,” Shapiro said. “We have deaths on the road because people are speeding.”
Have a driving question? Send it to globedrive@globeandmail.com and put ‘Driving Concerns’ in your subject line. Emails without the correct subject line may not be answered. Canada’s a big place, so let us know where you are so we can find the answer for your city and province.