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Video: Canadian cyclist charged with careless driving for weaving in and out of traffic while doing a wheelie

Police compliment him on riding skill but aren’t too happy about his respect for traffic laws

A Toronto cyclist has been charged with careless driving for weaving in and out of traffic and riding on pavements while doing a wheelie. The man in question says he will continue to wheelie, but only while obeying traffic laws.

CBC reports that the video of the incident was first posted to Instagram by @mylittlebikeshop in June.

Police noticed it and made a request for more information, saying:

“Thanks for the video, great riding skill, but dangerous cycling behaviour… YOU now have our attention. 

“Your video shows evidence of careless driving under the HTA, as well as several by-law offences.  You have put several pedestrians in harm’s way as a result of your actions.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility and this type of disregard for safe riding on city streets does not forward the cycling agenda in the City of Toronto, and puts you at risk of serious injury or death.”

The My Little Bike Shop account responded: "It's kind of heartbreaking to see my little poppa wheelie clip being posted on the Toronto police Instagram account... I say heartbreaking because my video is surrounded by surveillance videos of murders, stabbings, shootings, robberies and sexual assaults."

In a statement this week announcing the careless driving charge, police said: "The cyclist weaved through traffic, rode on the sidewalk, failed to signal lane changes, failed to yield to pedestrians, and failed to stop for a red light."

The cyclist is due to appear in court in October.

In a post last week, My Little Bike Shop said: "Despite me being a very skilled and experienced rider, I did break multiple laws.

"I plan to continue to do wheelies in the city. However, I will stop going on sidewalks, into oncoming lanes and through red lights for now."

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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8 comments

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Sriracha | 5 years ago
0 likes

How about whoever took the video? They must have been on a bike too. Just as bad - riding through the same traffic whilst operating a video camera, and having to keep their attention on the other guy as well. In some ways even worse, at least the wheelie guy was looking where he was going.

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mdavidford | 6 years ago
0 likes

"I will stop going on sidewalks, into oncoming lanes and through red lights for now."

 

For now? When does he plan to resume doing them?

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J90 | 6 years ago
0 likes

Never mind the wheelie, that manual!

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Johnnyvee | 6 years ago
3 likes

I just wish I could wheelie.

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nostaw | 6 years ago
0 likes

Brought a Transpire base layer a few years ago.  One of the most important bits of my winter kit.
https://www.chillcheater.com/fabrics/transpire-fleece/

 

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GarethWyn | 6 years ago
3 likes

Tit

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Yorkshire wallet | 6 years ago
0 likes

I bet he had a skull tattoo.

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burtthebike | 6 years ago
10 likes

Well, being extremely skilled is one thing, but being in full control of your bike is another.  If there had been an emergency, a kid running out into the road or a pedestrian running out on the pavement, he had no front brake and couldn't steer properly.

In this instance, I entirely agree with the police and that was un-necessarily putting pedestrians at risk.  Keep the stunts for off road and track riding where there isn't anyone else to put a risk.

And besides, the drivers and pedestrians who witness this will be able to blame all cyclists for riding dangerously; remember, collective responsibility only applies to cyclists, and if one does it, we all do it.

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