Traditionally confined to neighborhood posts, bicycle patrols are now part of the urban landscape.

Originally, police cyclists patrolling neighborhoods were mainly used for rapid interventions, such as public disorder, pickpocketing, and other minor offenses.

Not to mention that apprehending drug dealers in parks, for example, would be much more effective this way: "People pay less attention to a bicycle patrol, which is more discreet than a car," explains Nathalie Valois, a police officer in Montreal for 17 years.

This is her 4th year as a member of the urban brigade of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM).

The one who gets on her bike to crisscross the downtown streets is a mountain biking enthusiast. Last spring, she was heading to the canyons of Moab, Utah, renowned for offering the best mountain biking trails in the world. ( http://www.discovermoab.com/moab_canyon.htm )

According to Officer Valois, bike patrols have other advantages: "It's easier to spot drivers who are talking on the phone or not wearing their seatbelt."

Coexistence

Her four years of observing the difficult coexistence between cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists make her an ideal witness to give her opinion on the trench warfare that all these people are waging.

"The coexistence between cyclists and pedestrians is becoming increasingly difficult," notes Officer Valois. Cyclists, "the majority of whom respect the rules very well," do not, however, have only friends among pedestrians.

"It's systematic, pedestrians complain that a bicycle brushed past them when crossing the street, trying to weave through pedestrians crossing an intersection." Cyclists seem to have a habit of turning right on a red light, which is forbidden.

Riding on sidewalks is also a source of much frustration. "I understand that sometimes the streets are not safe," sympathizes the mountain biking specialist.

However, the highway code is clear: you must ride on the far right of the roadway. "Unless there is an obstacle that absolutely must be avoided, of course."

Excuses such as "I live there" or "I'm going to this store" are plentiful to justify riding on the sidewalk. According to Officer Valois, many also run "American lights," by analogy with the habit of many motorists not to come to a complete stop at stop signs.

Danger

Another major problem is doors opening suddenly in front of a cyclist . "This year alone, we've had three cases, and the season has just begun. Motorists don't look..."

Blind spots, in which bicycles often find themselves by force of circumstance, are a source of danger: trapped between the sidewalk and a car turning right, a cyclist can quickly become a victim.

"Many motorists think they will go fast enough to overtake the cyclist and take the right turn," thus risking creating a dangerous situation for the cyclist.

One of the sources of this problem: many motorists are dumbfounded "when we explain to them that cyclists do not have to obey pedestrian lights," continues Nathalie Valois. When the hand is orange, cyclists are allowed to continue their journey. And the car must yield the right of way before turning.

Some incidents are also caused by a lack of knowledge of the applicable rules.

"Cyclists are always surprised to learn that they cannot change direction at an intersection to take advantage of a green light." They are not, however, obliged to ride on bike paths.

In fact, they are subject to practically the same rules as motorists.

A situation that both cyclists and motorists must contend with a little more each day.

PHOTO CREDITS

Photos: Courtesy of SPVM