Although it’s technically not summer yet, the weather is getting better in most parts of Canada, including Toronto. That means more and more people are dusting off their bikes for a ride. Many torontonians are riding on the Martin Goodman Trail, a long stretch of bike paths and lanes that pass by the city’s extensive waterfront.
But on the weekend, there was a bit of a kerfuffle after a rider seemingly went through a stop sign–no bueno, for sure. The spot where they went through is a busy area for riders, but it appears that Toronto Police (TPS) had gathered there in some kinda sting targeting cyclists who failed to stop.
The video
A video circulating online has sparked just a wee bit criticism of the Toronto Police Service after footage appeared to show officers forcefully arresting a cyclist who apparently didn’t stop at the stop sign.
The video, reposted by David Shellnutt, a.k.a. The Biking Lawyer on social media, shows a cyclist being taken to the ground during an interaction with police. In the footage, the rider can be heard asking,
“What did I do?” An officer appears to respond, “You didn’t stop.”
Several details surrounding the incident remain unclear, including what occurred before the video began and whether other factors contributed to the arrest.
So what happened?
However, Shellnutt, who frequently advocates on behalf of cyclists in Toronto, said the footage raises serious concerns.
“Using force in this manner to hit a cyclist off their bike for a traffic infraction is incredibly dangerous and a possible example of excessive force,” Shellnutt said in a statement Monday.
According to Shellnutt, officers are generally only justified in using significant physical force against a cyclist if there is an immediate threat to public safety.
“The force used must be proportional to the threat you pose,” he said. “Hitting a cyclist off a bike is considered a high level of force and is generally not permitted for minor infractions.”
The incident reportedly occurred near an intersection where Toronto police have previously conducted enforcement campaigns targeting cyclists who fail to stop. Some cycling advocates have long argued that the location is poorly designed and better suited to a yield requirement than a full stop.
More to come?
Shellnutt said the latest incident reflects what he believes is a broader pattern of enforcement directed at people riding bikes.
“We have for many years now been calling the…
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