Article content continued

Light up your bike

Cyclists who don’t have proper reflectors or required bicycle lights could face fines of up to $500. The bill would also permit the use of flashing red lights on bicycles.

No more school bus impostors

The bill would also “clarify that only school buses can be painted chrome yellow.” One has to wonder what, exactly, necessitated that clarification.

Cycle safe

Cyclists annoyed by possible fines for forgetting or losing their bike lights should take heart in this: The bill would require all drivers to give cyclists a one-metre berth when passing at all times. Might be tough in downtown Toronto, but necessary.

Cycle more

The bill also increases ways to cycle or methods for cities to encourage more people to ride their bikes. It would allow cycling on paved shoulders of provincial highways, which is currently disallowed under the act. That would follow an earlier government pledge to pave more of those shoulders.

And the legislation would enable more cities to install contraflow lanes: bike lanes on one-way streets that run counter to vehicle traffic.

Drive sober

The bill would bring Ontario in line with other provinces and enact the same penalties for stoned drivers as those who are drunk, including escalating licence suspensions and mandated addictions counselling.

“Dooring” will cost you more than just repairs

Getting clotheslined by a car door on your commute to work is no fun, but for many cyclists in cities it’s a too regular occurrence. It can also be deadly — and now the province will take it as seriously as distracted driving, increasing fines to a maximum of $1,000 and three demerit points.

Even bigger transport trucks on the 401

Double-long transport trucks are about to get a little bigger: 2.5 metres longer to be exact. The backgrounder on the bill says the change would “accommodate new technologies required to meet air quality and greenhouse gas emissions standards, and include more comfortable sleeping areas for drivers.”

Towing the line

If passed, the bill would offer the same protections to tow-truck drivers as are afforded to emergency responders: when passing a tow-truck with flashing lights, drivers would be required to slow down and give a full lane’s berth when possible.

Allow more people to keep their licences as identification

Thousands of Ontarians struggle after a tough medical diagnosis. In some cases, it also means they lose their driving privileges (epilepsy, for example). Now, the government would allow those who’ve had their driver’s licence revoked for medical reasons to keep it as identification and in case they are allowed to drive again.

Crosswalk crackdown

Drivers who try to eke through crosswalks as soon as pedestrians are halfway through will have to wait a bit longer: the bill would require drivers wait until no one is in the crosswalk or face penalties.

No skateboarding behind cars