New safety campaign aims to illuminate cycling in the dark

You wouldn’t travel in a car at night without headlights. Why would you do it on a bike?

Hamilton Police Service is once again partnering with McMaster, the McMaster Students Union and the Ainsle Wood Westdale Community Association (AWWCA) to launch an educational campaign on bicycle safety.

Representatives from all parties were stationed at the Sterling Street entrance to campus at 12 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2, handing out bicycle lights to riders leaving campus.

The start of the campaign coincides with the end of Daylight Saving Time, which means earlier sunsets and longer nights.

Cyclists in Hamilton are required to have a white light turned on and attached to the front their bicycle and a red light attached to the rear while riding in the dark.

The bicycle lights have been donated by the AWWCA for McMaster students.

In addition to this safety campaign, there will be an enforcement campaign on campus and in Westdale and Ainsle Wood throughout November.

McMaster Security Services will lead the campaign on campus, while Hamilton Police Service work to ensure safe cycling in the neighbourhoods surrounding McMaster.

Bicycle registration forms with safety tips and information to help secure and identify bicycles are being made available to the public.

Hamilton Police Service encourages all bicycle owners to fill out these forms and keep them on hand, in the event that their bikes are stolen. This will allow for a greater opportunity to have property returned to its rightful owner if located.