Community Column by Don Butt (May 2014)

(Town of Mono, ON ) This month we are going to talk about a subject thjat I get very concerned about. The subject is bike riders and their bikes. Believe it or not but these fall under the Highway Traffic act and I will try to cover the important points. In daytime bikes must have a warning device, either a bell or battery – operated horn. The bike must also have a red reflector on the rear (fender or seat mounted). At night regulations are different. You must have a white working light on the front (generator or battery powered) and a working red light on the rear.


It is also a good idea to wear light coloured clothes or buy the reflective tape that is available and have it sewn on the back of your jacket. The most dangerous thing you can do is to wear dark clothes on a dark coloured bike and go out after dark with no lights!

Also, because you are classified as a wheeled vehicle for transportation, you must follow the same rules as other vehicles when on a public road. This means hand signals for turns and stops. You must obey traffic signs and lights. It has been my experience that very few riders do. Some police forces run bike safety courses on special days. Take advantage of these. They may save your life! Most of these regulations also apply to motorized bikes but many of them have signal and stop lights built in. Motorcycles may also have turn signals built in. And if you young folk must do stunts, not on a public road. Find an unused parking lot or an old road for this kind of thing – and be careful!!

Safety Tip – Keep a three second following distance. (this tip comes to you from Doug Annett and the Skid Control School at Oakville , Ont. (www.skidcontrolschool.com).

Phone Nos. – (a list of valuable numbers to have)
For all emergencies - 911
To report non emergency incidents or bad drivers -1-800-310-1122
Or by cell phone only *677

Road Watch
Our forms for reporting dangerous and aggressive drivers are now attached to our website.If you prefer a paper form or do not have a computer, our forms are available at Mono Plaza and OPP at Primrose. Please use them, the life you may save could be your own or a loved one. Or use the cell number to call direct - *677.

Don Butt is currently the Public Relations and Media Contact for the Mono Community Policing Committee. If you would like more information on anything covered in Don’s Column or would like to see a topic of public interest or safety covered; post a comment below.