Bicycle Rules

Before you hop on your bike, familiarize yourself with Prince Albert’s Bicycle Bylaw for guidance on how to bike safely around town. Below are few highlights on how to prepare for your ride and safely interact with other road and pathway users. Remember that you risk fines when you violate the rules outlined below.

Equipment

Helmets are required for anyone operating an electric bicycle or power assisted bicycle. Helmets are recommended for all other bicycles.

All bicycles must have:

brakes in working condition
a horn or bell capable of making sound to alert others within 35 meters
a headlamp, red tail lamp and reflector mounted on the rear of the bike if the bike is operated half an hour before sunrise and half an hour after sunset.

Operation

When operating a bicycle in Prince Albert, you must:

ride as close as practical to the right hand curb except when approaching an intersection
only ride two bikes side-by-side at a time
not participate in any stunting and keep both hands on the handle bars at all times
not carry a load that obstructs your vision or that hampers the safe operation of the bike

Sidewalks, Trails, Pathways and Parks

When riding a bike on a sidewalk, trail, shared-use pathway or park, you must:

Comply with all traffic signs
Operate the bike with due care and attention
Yield to pedestrians
Ride to the right of a sidewalk, trail or path, except when passing
Sound a horn or bell prior to passing
Travel at a reasonable rate of speed given the conditions of the area you are riding in.

Bicycle Serial Numbers

Serial numbers are used to track bicycles and return them to owners if they are stolen. You must never:

alter or remove the serial number from your bike;
operate or possess a bike where the serial number has been altered or removed.

Fines and Penalties

For violations of the Bicycle Bylaw, an individual can be fined $100.

Protect your Bike!

Bike theft is one of the most common types of crime reported in Prince Albert. Recording the details and taking photos of your bike, ensuring it is properly locked and secured and reporting it when it is stolen is the best way to stop bike theft and to be sure it’s returned to you if it is.

Help deter bike theft and increase the success rate of returning stolen bikes with their owners by following these three steps:

1. Record it!

Take a picture of your bike, keep a record of your receipt and the serial number. Things like the make, model, type and colour are all extremely useful when stolen property is recovered. You can also mark your bike in an area not visible to others to help you identify it later.

2. Lock it!

Protect your bike! Buy a good lock and make sure it’s secured at all times. It’s also a good idea to keep it secure even if it’s inside a garage or shed. Lock both the wheel and the frame. Wheels can easily be removed.

3. Report it!

If your bike is stolen, make sure you file an online police report with a description and serial number. Each year, numerous recovered bikes are sold at auction because there is no police report and police cannot identify the rightful owners. You can report it online at www.papolice.ca or call (306) 953-4222.

If you find your bike listed for sale online, do not attempt to recover it on your own. Please contact police at (306) 953-4222 for assistance.

Learn more at https://www.papolice.ca/protect-your-bike/