Media Release: Education and free bike lights keep cyclists safe as the days get shorter

HOLD FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4/10/2016                                                                            

Education and free bike lights keep cyclists safe as the days get shorter

Cycle Toronto’s Get Lit! campaign launches on Tuesday and runs through October

Toronto, ON, October 4 2016. With shorter days upon us, Cycle Toronto is launching it’s Get Lit! Campaign which targets unlit cyclists and offers education and free bike lights to help them get home safe. The campaign encourages riders to have proper lighting and reflective gear on their bicycles to help them be seen and stay safe when riding in low light.    

Cycle Toronto’s 2016 Get Lit! campaign is supported by the City of Toronto as part of the City’s ‘Road Safety Plan’, and by bicycle crash attorneys Bike Law Canada.

Outreach to cyclists will occur every Tuesday evening in October at a different location. Cycle Toronto staff and volunteers will flag down unlit cyclists and provide education on why staying visible is important. This includes highlighting that improper bicycle lighting is a ticketable offence under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act.

Cyclists will be provided with a free pair of front- and rear-lights, and a copy of the Toronto Cyclists Handbook, so they can get home safe and fine-free.

“We want to encourage people to keep riding even as the light fades, but it’s really important that everyone does their bit to stay safe on the road” commented Cycle Toronto’s Executive Director Jared Kolb. “Lights help riders to see and be seen, and we want to be sure cyclists continue enjoying their ride while also staying safe”.

The City of Toronto’s Road Safety Plan was adopted by City Council in July this year. The plan aims to reduce the number of traffic-related deaths and serious injuries to zero on Toronto's roads over the next 5 years (2017-2021). The Plan emphasizes protection for the most vulnerable road users.

"Education is a key pillar of the City's Road Safety Plan” said Councillor Jaye Robinson, Chair of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee. “This fall's Get Lit! Campaign gives cyclists the information and tools they need to stay safe, alert and visible on our streets as the days get shorter."

Get Lit! will occur at the following locations through October, from approximately 6:30 until 9pm:

• Tuesday October 4 at the Art Gallery of Ontario, Beverly Street and Dundas St West
• ​Tuesday October 11 at Boulton Drive Parkette, Boulton Drive near Poplar Plains
• ​Tuesday October 18 at Castle Frank Subway Station
• Tuesday October 25 at Toronto Public Library, College Street and Shaw Street

Cycle Toronto is a non-profit member-supported organization that advocates for a healthy, safe, and cycling-friendly city for all.

Contact:
Mark Romeril
Membership and Ward Advocacy Manager
Cycle Toronto
416 644 7188
mark@cycleto.ca