Starting today, until November 4, VicPD will be out patrolling the Douglas Street bus and bike priority lanes to educate drivers and offer a free bus ticket.
Commuters saw the education campaign in action at the corner of Douglas and Summit this afternoon, as VicPD officers pulled over drivers and gave them an information flyer explaining the rules, as well as a free bus ticket. “I’d say within the first half hour we pulled over about thirty to forty drivers,” Const. Matt Rutherford tells Victoria Buzz.
From November 7 to 10, police will then be patrolling and ticketing those in violation of the restriction, with a fine of $109.
“Drivers are responsible for knowing and obeying the rules of the road, and this campaign will help inform drivers of the correct usage of the priority curb lanes,” said Victoria Police Department’s Acting Chief Del Manak. “We wanted to start off with an education campaign, and then follow up with dedicated enforcement for the priority curb lanes to help our citizens build knowledge of the laws.”
The campaign is a partnership between BC Transit, the Victoria Police Department, and the City of Victoria.
Susan Brice, Victoria Regional Transit Commission Chair explains, “These bus priority lanes play an important role in creating an efficient and reliable transit system for our customers and the region as a whole.”
The lanes are meant for buses, including BC Transit and private tour companies, and cyclists.
Motorists are allowed to enter the bus and bicycle lane only if making a right hand turn within the current block. The lanes operate weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. southbound from Hillside to Fisgard and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. northbound from Fisgard to Tolmie.
In spring 2017, these lanes will become designated for transit and cyclist use only, 24 hours a day.
