April 25, 1999

To:Emergency and Protective Services Committee

From:City Clerk

Subject:"Watch for Bikes" Taxi Sticker Program

Recommendation:

The Toronto Cycling Committee at its meeting held on April 19, 1999 recommended to the Emergency and Protective Services Committee that implementation of the "Watch for Bikes" Sticker program for taxis be made a requirement for the issuance of a taxi licence in the City of Toronto.

The Toronto Cycling Committee reports, for the information of the Emergency and Protective Services Committee, having supported, in principle, the Advocacy for Respect for Bicycles' program for stickers directed to passengers in taxis, and having requested that the group submit its sticker design to the appropriate staff in Transportation Planning and Municipal Licensing and Standards for comment thereon to the Toronto Cycling Committee.

Background:

The Toronto Cycling Committee had before it the following:

(i)communication (march 8, 1999) addressed to the Toronto Licensing Commission from the Director, Transportation Planning, respecting the "Watch for Bikes" road safety program, run in cooperation with the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), to publicize the hazards of a car door opening into the path of a cyclist; advising that in 1999, the Toronto Cycling Committee recommended that stickers, developed by the CAA, be affixed to drivers-side-mirrors and side windows of taxi cabs; and requesting the assistance of the Toronto Licensing Commission in the implementation of this program with respect to taxi cabs; and

(ii)submission respecting the Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists' taxi sticker campaign, directed to passenger, submitted by Mr. Derek Chadbourne, Member, Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists.

Mr. Sean Wheldrake, Coordinator, Road and Trail Safety Ambassador Program, made a presentation to the Toronto Cycling Committee on the "Watch for Bikes" sticker campaign.

Mr. Derek Chadbourne, Member, Advocacy for Respect for Cyclist, appeared before the Toronto Cycling Committee in connection with the Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists' taxi sticker campaign.

City Clerk

M. Casini/sd

Attachments

Sent to:Emergency and Protective Services Committee

Director, Transportation Planning

Director, Taxi Unit, Municipal Licensing and Standards Division

Mr. Derek Chadbourne, Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists

c.Councillor Jack Layton, Toronto Cycling Committee

Mr. Daniel Egan, Manager, Pedestrian and Cycling Infrastructure

Mr. Sean Wheldrake, Co-ordinator, Road and Trail Safety Ambassador Program

March 8, 1999

Ms. Carol Ruddell-Foster

General Manager, Licensing Commission

939 Eglinton Avenue East

Toronto, Ontario M4G 4G2

Dear Ms. Ruddell-Foster:

I am writing to request your assistance in the implementation of a "Watch for Bikes" road safety program. This program, run in cooperation with the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), help to publicize the hazards of a car door opening into the path of a cyclist. The CAA has developed a sticker which can be place on a drivers-side-mirror or on a side window, which reminds drivers or passengers to watch for bikes before opening vehicle doors into traffic. This campaign began following a cyclist fatality in the summer of 1997 as a result of a car door opening into traffic.

In 1999, the Toronto Cycling Committee has recommended that these stickers be affixed to drivers-side-mirrors and side windows of taxi cabs. CAA has provided stickers free of charge and I have attached several for your information. Only the "watch for bikes" printing at the bottom of the sticker is affixed the mirror or side windows.

The Highway Traffic Act, Section 165, requires that "No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle on a highway without first taking due precautions to ensure that his or her act will not interfere with the movement of or endanger any other person or vehicle". The fine is $105 and two demerit points. The Cycling Committee wants the Licensing Commission to take a pro-active, positive role in reducing injuries and fatalities resulting from improper car door openings.

City involvement with this campaign will be publicized in a launch to be scheduled for the week of April 19, 1999. In addition to announcing the taxi cab "watch for bikes" initiative, we hope to announce a "watch for bikes" sticker program on City fleet vehicles and to distribute TV public service announcements within the Police Services and to other media outlets. Councillor Jack Layton will be a spokesperson at the event.

Please let me know if this program can be implemented.

Sincerely,

Rod McPhail

Director, Transportation Planning