Back to school transportation: get familiar with the rules of the road

Kamloops City

2024-08-29 15:01 PDT

An image taken from behind of a boy and a girl walking on a sidewalk wearing backpacks.

View larger image: an image taken from behind of a boy and a girl walking on a sidewalk wearing backpacks.

Whether in a car, on an ebike, or walking -- when the school bell rings next week, make sure you’re on board with safety.

Tuesday Sept. 3, 2024, marks the first day of school for thousands of students across Kamloops and with them, comes an increase in pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists on the roadways. To help ensure a safe return for everyone, the Kamloops RCMP Detachment is reminding the community to slow down, be aware of their surroundings, reduce distractions, and give themselves extra time to get to their destination.

If you haven’t already started thinking about this coming Tuesday, please take a moment to appreciate that our roadways typically get busier once the summer ends and routines start back up again, said Corporal Crystal Evelyn, Kamloops RCMP Detachment spokesperson.

Along with reviewing general safety tips, it’s also important for families to familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations of the roadway as they relate to motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.

In June, we saw new regulations introduced in BC which include minimum safe passing distances for driving around vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians, said Cpl. Evelyn.

As more light-weight electric assisted or powered scooters and bikes make their way into the retail market, it’s also essential that consumers and users of these products keep up to date on the rules and regulations associated to their usage on public roadways.

Not all forms of electric cycles and mobility devices are legal on roadways, even if they may appear to be marketed as such, said Cpl. Evelyn. Before investing in something for personal transportation, please do the proper research to ensure your intended use is legal.

Even ebikes and traditional bicycles are subject to rules and regulations under the Motor Vehicle Act, added Cpl. Evelyn.

It’s important to remember that the rules of the road are in place to help improve its safety for all users, said Cpl. Evelyn. Please take the time to sit down with those in your household and review current regulations if you haven’t already, to help keep things moving in the right direction.

Information related to electric assisted cycles and mobility devices is available on the Government of BC and ICBC websites.

From the Government of British Columbia website, www.2.gov.bc.ca

What motorized devices are legal?

The Motor Vehicle Act and regulations currently permit and set rules for the following types of motorized devices to be used on a public road:

Each of these devices must meet specific requirements to be legal for public road use.

Operators must also obey rules on how devices may be operated. For example, you may be required to use a device only in certain places, be of a minimum age and wear safety equipment such as an approved bicycle safety helmet.

What are e-bikes?

E-bikes are power-assisted cycles that have a motor to help propel the device. B.C. laws define e-bikes as motor assisted cycles, and the Motor Assisted Cycle (E-Bike) Regulation sets rules you must follow to use an e-bike. A person does not need a driver’s license or insurance to operate an e-bike on B.C. roads.

A motor assisted cycle (e-bike) must have:

For more information, visit Driving and cycling - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)

Released by:

Cpl. Crystal Evelyn
Media Relations Officer
Kamloops RCMP
560 Battle Street, Kamloops, BC V2C 6N4
Office: 250-828-3193
Fax: 250-828-3034

Email: crystal.evelyn@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Website: kamloops.rcmp.ca

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