Watch out riders: Toronto police say they will be conducting an enforcement campaign aimed around safe operation of micromobility vehicles from Monday through Sept. 13.
The police service describes such vehicles as “small, compact, low-speed vehicles,” including e-bikes, e-scooters and regular pedal-powered bicycles.
“Really what we’re trying to do is simply provide education where required and enforcement where needed,” said police Insp. Matt Moyer.
“It makes no difference what kind of operator you are … the laws of the road apply to all,” police said in a Monday news release.
The three-week-long effort joins the City of Toronto public awareness campaign aimed at mitigating conflicts between cyclists, pedestrians and cars.
The broader campaign features reminders like “Riding the wrong way in the bike lane grinds everyone’s gears” and “You’ve got wheels, they’ve got heels. Don’t ride on the sidewalk.”
However, Moyer said public education campaigns alone “are really insufficient, I believe, to drive meaningful behaviour change.”
According to Toronto police, their campaign efforts will focus in particular on school safety zones, “paying close attention to drivers who choose to speed; drive aggressively, distracted or impaired; and park or drive within cycle lanes.”
Meanwhile, University-Rosedale Coun. Dianne Saxe said she’s hoping for enforcement of vehicles stopping in bike lanes and mopeds driving “way too fast” in bike lanes.
“They’re a real hazard,” she said Monday, noting that she expects a ticket blitz will lead to “a real change.”
Safety is key, Moyer said, noting that police expect a positive impact on congestion as well.
WATCH | Understanding Toronto’s congestion plan: 
Breaking down Toronto’s new plan to tackle congestion
From the creation of a so-called “traffic czar” to a new charge for construction companies, Toronto city council has approved a slew of measures to tackle congestion. CBC’s Lane Harrison breaks down the highlights.