DRIVER, 85, CHARGED AFTER YOUNG CYCLIST INJURED WHEN ‘DOORED’ IN GRAVENHURST MONDAY
GRAVENHURST — A young cyclist is lucky to have suffered only minor injuries after being “doored” by a driver parked in his car on the main street here Monday.
Police say that on July 11, in the early afternoon, the cyclist was involved in the collision on Muskoka Road after a motorist, who was parked alongside the road, opened his car door and interfered with the bicyclist’s path.
The youth, who was fortunately wearing his helmet, however suffered minor injuries when he fell.
The driver from Peterborough, age 85, was charged with Open Vehicle Door Improperly HTA165(a).
Police remind everyone that as summer is well underway and people are enjoying moving about our communities on bicycles, they offer motorists and cyclists to be responsible while sharing the roadway:
- Cyclists must follow the rules of the road, cycle on the right side of the road and respect traffic signals and signs.
- Motorists must respect that cyclists are entitled to adequate space while operating, 1 metre of space in fact.
- Communication is important and cyclists must use appropriate hand signals to indicate their intention to change lanes or direction and are to be allowed the road space to complete those manoeuvres.
- Safety is very important and everyone under the age of 18 MUST wear a properly fitting helmet for face a fine.
- The parent of a person under the age of 16 SHALL ensure that their youth is wearing a properly fitted helmet or face a fine.
- Mandatory equipment on a bicycle includes a noise maker such as a bell or horn, a light that must be on anytime after dusk and a reflector.
The OPP has a great partnership with Mac’s (Circle K) Convenience Stores in support of a positive ticketing program.
Officers provide coupons (positive tickets) to youth when they are observed exhibiting positive behaviour such as wearing their bike helmets and following the safety rules. The coupons bearing the OPP logo are redeemable for a free cold (‘Froster’) beverage during Operation Freeze in the summer and a warm beverage (hot chocolate) during Operation Heat in the winter months at Mac’s (Circle K).
