Achi news desk-
Ten days after a four-year-old girl was hit by a cyclist while crossing rue Jean Mans in Montreal’s Plateau district, another video has been released showing multiple cycling violations on the same stretch of road.
The video was widely shared and many cyclists in Montreal saw more police presence.
“The police come out in force and train cyclists for wearing music [headphones]Not wearing helmets and riding on the wrong side of the street,” said cyclist Michel Richose, who rides to work every day.
The bicyclist who hit the girl received a $131 ticket for failing to stop at least five feet from a school bus whose stop sign had been extended. Biking violations can carry fines from $80 to over $100.
Stanford University postdoctoral physicist Saud Al Kharossi said he usually wears a helmet and has stopped wearing headphones.
“Not listening to music? That’s the biggest thing,” he said. “Also, avoiding parked cars. I’m afraid people will open the doors. It’s already happened a few times. So that’s the main thing.”
El Harousi said Montreal is a better cycling city than others he has been to.
The Montreal Police Department (SPVM) said patrols from all 29 stations go out to monitor cyclists, but El Harousi said there is no need to fear police stops to make cyclists safer on the road.
