Quebec beefs up safety measures for cyclists

The Quebec government says cycling will be safer from now on, thanks to a proposed bill aimed at increasing bike safety on the province's streets and roads.

The Quebec Transport Ministry tabled a bill Thursday morning, proposing amendments to the Quebec Highway Safety Code.

One of the measures includes much stricter fines for drivers who "door" cyclists the common way to describewhen someone opens the door of a stoppedvehicle without shoulder-checkingand hits a passing cyclist.

Thefines will be between $200 to $300.

That's compared to the current $30.

Vlo Qubec'sMarc Jolicoeur said the new measures will help ensure the safety and well-being of cyclists.

"It's very good for cyclists," Jolicoeur said. "It's something we've been asking for for almost 10years, and to see these introduced intolawwe are very glad about that."

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Quebec's coroner's office recommended in 2013 that harsher fines be imposed for drivers who fail to check before opening their doors, after investigating the deaths of three cyclists from dooring.

The coroner's office had said at the time that a $30 fine was far too low for a mistake that could cost a life.

In Ontario, fines for "dooring"can be as steep as $1,000.

Greater distance

The bill tabled Thursday also imposes a minimum distance that a motor vehicle must keep when passing a bicycle.

"No driver of a road vehicle may pass a bicycle within the same traffic lane unless the driver may do so safely, after reducing the vehicle's speed and ensuring that a reasonable distance can be kept between the vehicle and the bicycle during the manuvre," the bill states.

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A "reasonable distance" is defined as:

• 1.5 metres on a street with a speed limit of 50 km/h or more
• 1 metre on a street with a speed limit lower than 50 km/h

Daoust's bill alsoincludedproposed changes to regulate the taxi industry and ride-hailing services such asUberX.

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