Today, June 12, 2006, the Toronto Police Services launched its annual cycling campaign with a new name and a new focus. Safe Cycling - Share the Responsibility. This, I think is a response to criticisms from the cycling community of the old 'Cycle Right' campaign which they felt would focus primarily on issuing tickets to cyclists for minor infractions rather than focussing on the actions of motorists that endanger cyclists. The wording of the press release describing this campaign focuses more on the actions of motorists, such as dooring or parking in bike lanes, and and speaks of sharing the road. The press release is quoted below:

Traffic Services officers are gearing up their traffic safety efforts to ensure motorists and cyclists share a peaceful coexistence on Toronto roadways.
The week-long Safe Cycling - Share the Responsibility traffic safety initiative is aimed at making cyclists and motorists safer by stepping up education, awareness and enforcement.
The June 12-18 campaign is the second part of a year-long traffic safety strategy, Operation Safe Journey.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility,” Traffic Services Sgt. Brian Bowman said, of the campaign that aims to get drivers and cyclists communicating.
“Communication through eye contact and hand signals and motorists using their signals and their mirrors makes everyone safer,” Bowman said.
Officers are reminding motorists to be careful when opening car doors in the path of cyclists and the importance of checking blind spots when making right turns.
“Some drivers roll around a right turn, rather than stopping and checking their blind spot first,” Bowman said, noting cyclists are vulnerable road users.
Officers will be keeping an eye out for vehicles parked in designated bike lanes and aggressive bicycling that puts people in danger.
Bowman also said cyclists will be held to account for their actions, meaning they must obey all the traffic rules of the road.
“They have to obey the same laws as motorists,” said Bowman.
Each year, about 1,200 cyclists are involved in collisions on Toronto roadways.
The last five cycling fatalities have involved commercial vehicles.

This press release is entitled Shift to a nicer gear…share the road. This shift to a more balanced focus is welcome. It gives us hope that the message that cyclists do belong on the road and have a right to feel safe there is spreading.

Martin Koob
tcc-rep@tbn.ca