Misleading RCMP tweet frustrates cycling advocate
Crosswalk pictured has markings that indicate cyclists may ride through
A misleading tweet from the B.C. RCMP Traffic Services account has a cycling advocate asking for a public clarification.
The tweet, which has been removed, included incorrect information about laws regarding cyclists in crosswalks.
The tweet read "Did you know you must always walk your bike in a crosswalk?" It also warned cyclists of a $109 fine for failing to do so.
The tweet had two major flaws, said Edward Pullman, president of the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition.
"One is under the Motor Vehicle Act, municipalities are allowed to designate crosswalks for cyclists to bike through," he said.
"Two is the irony that it showed an image of a particular crosswalk in Maple Ridge, featuring elephants' feet."
Elephants' feet are squares painted outside of the crosswalk that are designed to indicate to cyclists that they may ride through.
While relatively new, Pullman said it's important that cyclists, drivers and police understand how these crosswalks work.
"Obviously this tweet certainly demonstrates that we have a long way to go in terms of ... education ... when law enforcement, [which is] expected to know and enforce the laws, don't know [their] own laws."
B.C. RCMP said the tweet was removed after the force was alerted to the inaccuracy, and it will be replaced with a corrected version once it's ready.
I bike every day but I'd never heard of Elephant Feet crosswalks til now. <a href="https://twitter.com/GVCC">@GVCC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BCRCMPTraffic">@BCRCMPTraffic</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cycling?src=hash">#cycling</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yyjtraffic?src=hash">#yyjtraffic</a> <a href="https://t.co/LHTnhFIP74">pic.twitter.com/LHTnhFIP74</a>
—@GregorCraigie