The Need for Speed

​“I didn’t even know cyclists could get a speeding ticket,” said a woman nabbed for speeding through a school zone.

That makes two of us!

​I’ve never received any kind of a ticket on a bicycle; certainly not a speeding ticket. Not that I ever would. I don’t travel very quickly on a bicycle. My ride is of a slow and steady mid-price mountain bike, not a high end road bike. I’m like the cowboy who chooses the steady, (if somewhat crotchety) old mare over the plucky stallion. Slow and steady wins the race for me.

Not for this cyclist apparently. She was ripped through Saanich at 45 km per hour. That’s an impressive speed at any time, especially on a flat surface. Hell, I’m lucky if I even approach that kind of speed coming down the side of the Malahat! I might hit a “4” or a “5”, but NEVER a “4” and “5” together!

This woman admirable velocity wasn't so impressive to the Saanich police. She achieved her velocity while going through a school zone, and she fell right into a speed trap.

"We were stopping motorists, but we couldn't help but notice cyclists coming through our speed zones were in excess of the speed limit," said super cop Sgt. John Price. "The rules apply equally to a cyclist as they do to a driver of a vehicle.”

Those of you who know Sgt. Price know he’s a real stickler for the rules. That’s probably a good thing if you’re a cop. And I have to admit, even though as a cyclist I’m really surprised that I could potentially receive a ticket, as a father, I’m delighted that he’s watching out for kid’s safety.

There are no details on how Sgt. Price caught this speedster. Did he jump on his police bicycle, all decked out in police lights and siren and give chase to the offender? Wouldn’t that be cool to see? A high speed bike chase through the sleepy municipalities of Saanich.

I’m also really curious to know... Just how much IS a speeding ticket is for cyclists? If you are speeding through a school zone in your car, you can receive a fine as high as $483. Can you receive the same amount on a bike, or would the fine be half the amount a motor vehicle receives for half the number of wheels?

Wait now, that wouldn’t be very fair, would it? Kids caught speeding through a school zone on their tricycle would be subject to a third higher fine than cyclists. Not to mention seniors in scooters zipping down the sidewalk. I don’t know about you, but I get really intimidated by grinning seniors bearing down on me in their scooter on the sidewalk. Shouldn’t they be receiving fines too?
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Wishing you safe cycling (driving, scooting, walking... whatever).