Quebec Transport Minister Jacques Daoust says changes are coming to the Highway Safety Code in order to protect cyclists.
A bill to be introduced by mid-May will increase fines for dooring, the act of hitting a cyclist with a car door, and require motorists driving in cities to drive at least one metre away from cyclists.
The current version of the law only says motorists must give cyclists "enough" space, something Velo Quebec President Suzanne Lareau said isn't good enough.
"Enough space means nothing. it could be six inches for someone, zero for another," she said.
The fine for dooring is currently $56. Daoust didn't say how much the fine would be raised to, but did say the change would be significant. In addition to an increase in the fine for dooring, Lareau said she wants to see guilty drivers lose two demerit points.
The bill is actually the long-awaited taxi industry legislation, but cycling-related changes will be added on in an attempt to vote them into law before the National Assembly breaks for the summer.
Other long-promised changes to the Highway Safety Code will come in the fall, Daoust said, but he said the changes pertaining to cycling needed to be made before then.
“Since the summer is coming and we will have more and more cyclists on our streets and roads, we have to make sure we protect them,” he said.
The announcement comes a day after friends, family and fellow cyclists held a memorial ceremony for Mathilde Blais, who was killed when she was hit by a truck while riding a bike on St. Denis St. two years ago.
