BC’s provincial government released a statement on Thursday, April 4, outlining new regulations requiring drivers to take precautions when interacting with vulnerable road users. Vulnerable road users are defined as a pedestrian or a person on: a bicycle, a motorcycle, an animal or animal-driven vehicle, an electric kick scooter, an electric wheelchair or a mobility scooter, under BC's new law.
"The changes establish a new minimum distance of one metre that drivers must maintain when passing cyclists and other vulnerable road users," the statement indicated. "The amendments will enhance safety for cyclists and pedestrians."
The provincial government stated that the new law is among several updates to the Motor Vehicle Act coming into effect to enhance safety and promote cleaner and active transportation. That distance increases to 1.5 metres on highways with a posted speed limit above 50 kilometres an hour.
“These new regulations will keep people safer on our roads and encourage even more use of active transportation,” stated Rob Fleming, minister of transportation and infrastructure.
The statement also updates e-bike classifications, other mobility devices and automated self-driving vehicles.
“It’s another step in modernizing our rules to keep up with new technologies that are changing how people are getting around.”
Cyclists and other vulnerable road users will have added protection under the law with new safe passing distance rules for drivers.
The media release also indicated that people 14 years of age and older will be able to use a new class of e-bikes that use less power, have lower maximum speeds and motors that only operate with pedalling.
As for fully automated, self-driving vehicles, they are prohibited from operation by individuals in BC.
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