Cyclist speeding ticket sparks social media debate

A speeding ticket issued to a cyclist who allegedly flew through aSaanich school zone has sparked debateon social media this week.

Todd Litman,a bicycle advocate and the executive director of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute, said it's reasonable.

"It's unusual, but it does occur," he told Gregor Craigie, the host ofOn The Island."Bicycles are vehicles. They are not motor vehicles, but they are vehicles, and most traffic laws apply."

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But bikes do pose less of a risk to others than vehicles, so anargument could be made that fines for breaking traffic laws should be lower for cyclists,Litmansaid.

There are alsosome situationswhere he would like to see cyclists given a break on the rules of theroad, such aswhen children or inexperienced cyclistsride their bikes slowly on uncrowdedsidewalks.

The cyclist inSaanichwas handed aspeeding ticket in aschool zone Wednesday morning. The officer who issued the ticket warned all cyclists via social media to watch their speeds after nabbing the free-wheeler.

Litmansaid he is not surprised the move prompted plenty ofdebate.

"People get very emotional about these issues," he said.

To hear the full interview, click the audio labelled:Should cyclists receive speeding tickets?

-with files from On The Island