A Halifax cyclist who was pulled over by two police cars and hit with more than $700 in fines says the incident made him feel like a criminal for riding a bike.
Marc Almon admits he wasn't wearing a helmet when police spotted him riding down Gottingen Street on Thursday.
Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/HfxRegPolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HfxRegPolice</a> thanks for making me feel like a criminal for riding my bike! I feel so safe knowing police officers are ticketing and intimidating bicycle riders. Keep doing God's work! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nspoli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nspoli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hfxpoli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hfxpoli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/halifax?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#halifax</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/IBIKEHFX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IBIKEHFX</a> <a href="https://t.co/VFKBPgzmEW">pic.twitter.com/VFKBPgzmEW</a>
—@marc_almon"It was a short jaunt," he said. "I was approaching an intersection when I heard the cops pulling up behind me and barking at me."
He said it was an awkward place to stop. "And frankly I was just annoyed. It was like, 'Oh God — this again?'"
'Frisked for weapons'
He went through the intersection and found two police cars, lights flashing, now trying to stop him. He rode onto the sidewalk and stopped.
"They stopped me and frisked me for weapons and handed me these four tickets," he said Friday.
He got tickets for:
- Failing to obey a police officer.
- Riding a bicycle without a helmet.
- Failing to ride bicycle on right side of roadway.
- Riding a bicycle on a sidewalk.
Nova Scotia's cycling laws say cyclists have the "same rights and responsibilities as motorists." Cyclists are to ride on the right side of the road with the flow of traffic, using "as much of the lane as required to be safe from roadside hazards."
Cyclists in Nova Scotia must wear a helmet that complies with regulations.
He said the police were just doing their jobs by ticketing him for not wearing a helmet, but thinks the helmet law itself is wrong. He said it can discourage poor people from cycling, especially if they don't and get a $150 ticket.
"I'm going to try and fight it. I think this is wrong what happened here," he said.
He expects to have to pay the helmet ticket, but perhaps not the other charges.
Helmet law 'not the right approach'
He thinks the helmet law has held Halifax back. Ride-sharing programs are hard to organize if everyone had to bring a helmet or have one provided, he said. "This law is not normal. Most places on earth don't have this law."
He thinks it's good to wear a helmet, but thinks adults should be able to decide for themselves.
"I understand the intent behind this law, and that is to try and save lives and to make people safer, but making bicyclists feel like they're criminals for riding their bikes, I think that's not the right approach."
Comments
To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted.
By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.