Bicycle licensing would be a ‘backward move’

The provincial government should steer clear of cycle licences, says Toronto critical injury lawyer and safety advocate Patrick Brown.

A recent study by consulting firm Campaign Research found a majority of Torontonians surveyed would like to see stricter rules before cyclists can take to the streets.

Around 60 per cent of respondents agreed that cyclists should be tested for competency, and required to hold a licence and insurance in a similar way to motorists.

But Brown, partner with McLeish Orlando LLP, says it was not an area for government intrusion.

“In an era where we need more people on the bikes for environmental and health reasons, this would be an archaic and backward move,” he says.

Campaign Research CEO Eli Yufest told Global News the poll also shows that residents of the country’s largest city support the development of a more comprehensive bike lane network, but that they also want more rules as ridership grows.

“People are just generally concerned with the lack of respect for the rules of the road,” Yufest said. “There has to be an appreciation for people just obeying the rules of the road.”

But Brown says bike riders are already regulated enough.

“The rules of the road and highway traffic laws already apply to cyclists. They can be charged for offences just like drivers. This is not a reason to call for licensing, but simply a red herring,” he says. “This would simply be a cash grab since there is no real justification or foundation in law to do so.”

Restrict licensing

Brown says licensing should be restricted to areas of activity that have a potential to harm others in society.

“For instance, a firearms licence is required so people do not carelessly shoot other people. The same applies to cars, a two-ton piece of equipment that can kill someone if driven improperly,” he says. “That cannot be said of a bike.”

Brown helped initiate and sat on a Coroners’ Review on cycling and pedestrian deaths in Ontario in 2012, which concluded that the primary cause of injury and death for those groups is by drivers of cars.

“The focus of any licensing should be on standards and regulations connected to drivers of cars, those that make them, and the authorities responsible for maintaining road infrastructure,” Brown says.

Global notes that periodic attempts to license cyclists have occurred in Toronto, with the last one coming in July 2016 when Coun. Stephen Holyday asked the city’s transportation staff to look at the possibility of registering bikes to help raise money for cycling infrastructure. However, none of the initiatives made any progress.