Cyclists aim to change Ontario attitudes and laws

Some cyclists in Ottawa are hoping their 100-kilometre ride this weekend will help change the law and protect other bike riders throughout Ontario.

For the past five years, hundreds of riders across Ontario have taken part in Greg's Ride, organized by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition in memory of a police officer struck and killed while riding his bicycle.

Joe Haimowitz was one of the Ottawa cyclists taking part in Sunday's event, which helps raise funds for the advocacy group. Cycling in Ontario still presents dangers, he said.

"There's just been a ton of stuff going on between bicyclists and cars, and it seems like this is a bigger and bigger issue in our city, in our province," said Haimowitz, who hopes the ride will increase awareness.

Anne Palliwal, the Ottawa ride's organizer, said: "They are going to be sharing the road, that's the whole purpose of the event. No roads are going to be closed off. They're a vehicle on the road, as well as a car."

The idea for the annual event started with Eleanor McMahon, the widow of Greg Stobbart, the OPP officer who died on the road.

She said she was shocked to find out that hundreds of thousands of drivers in Ontario are under licence suspensions but continue to drive. So her group lobbied successfully for legislation that will help keep dangerous drivers off the road.

The new law — known as Greg's law — comes into effect this fall.

"To be able to pass a law that honours my husband's memory and his work as a police officer, despite the tragic circumstances, is very gratifying," McMahon said.

The legislation imposes stiff penalties on drivers with suspended licenses who continue to drive.

The group plans more rides to raise money for their next legislative goal: a law requiring drivers to give cyclists a minimum of one metre of clearance as they pass.