2011 Active Communities Pledge

Thursday, December 1, 2011

*Please note the change in location

 London Convention Centre

300 York St., London, ON

 Register Now 

Click Here To View The Full Agenda- as of November 30, 2011 

Keynote Speaker

Greenville South Carolina Councillor Amy Ryberg Doyle, a speaker at the National Bike Summit in Washington in 2011, will speak about how her community has embraced cycling. Like London, Greenville is a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community, and Amy will provide insights and information on Greenville’s efforts to “Go for Silver” and create a cycling culture there. Amy is a dynamic speaker, and her story about how Greenville has overcome numerous challenges through innovative approaches is sure to inspire!

Cost: $35 for the full day program including lunch

Click Here To Register Now  Or Register Onsite

Accommodations

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Residence Inn by Marriott London Downtown.  One Bedroom King Suites (including kitchen, breakfast and internet) are available for $139/night by calling the hotel at 1-877-477-8483 and asking for the London Bike Summit rates.  Rates are only guaranteed until November 17, 2011, and based on availability after that.

Brought to you by:

Share The Road Rides

The “Share the Road” Rides in Ontario

We held our first Ride in 2006, the year we lost my husband OPP Sergeant Greg Stobbart. With
the help of Dennis Mizerski, my friend and the owner of Racer Sportif in Toronto and Oakville,
we organized the “Share the Road for Greg Ride” to remember Greg, to remind us all to share
the road, and to raise funds for what would become the Share the Road Cycling Coalition – the
cycling policy and advocacy organization we launched in 2008.

Since 2006 the number of Rides in Ontario have grown. This year, we are involved in eight
Rides in Ontario covering some of the most beautiful and scenic areas of our province. The
Rides are meant for cyclists of all ages and abilities.

The growth in the number of Rides reflects cycling's growing popularity and the desire for
communities to host an event which brings together community partners to promote cycling –
and in particular the “Share the Road” message. It also means increased opportunities for all of
us to enjoy the company of old and new friends in the great outdoors.

Please stay tuned to our website for updates. As details become available we will post them here.
As always, if you have any questions please contact us at: info@sharetheroad.ca

These Rides would not be possible without the support of our partners, both nationally and at
the community level, and our sponsors. Our thanks go to the organizing committees of all of our
Rides – tireless volunteers who work diligently to bring you memorable, enjoyable events.

In memory of loved ones we have lost, and in celebration of an activity we all enjoy, we invite
you to join us in communities across Ontario this summer. We remember, and we celebrate.

We look forward to seeing you. In the meantime, thank you for your support.

Yours in safe cycling,

Eleanor McMahon

Come out and join us - have some fun, a great ride, and support a worthy cause!
See you there.

Greg's Law

Bill 126 “Ontario Road Safety Act” Passes 3rd Reading in Ontario Legislature “Greg’s Law” In Memory of Deceased Ontario Provincial Police Officer

Burlington, Ontario – April 22nd, 2009 – Eleanor McMahon, road safety advocate and Founder of the Share the Road Cycling Coalition (a provincial cycling advocacy organization) reacted positively to the news that Bill 126 (the Ontario Road Safety Act) passed third reading in the Ontario legislature yesterday.

The Bill contains provisions targeting suspended drivers, with those caught driving under suspension to receive a penalty that will include a seven day vehicle impoundment. The amendments, known as “Greg’s Law” target motorists who drive suspended, unlicensed and therefore uninsured.

Said McMahon: “Suspended driver legislation now exists in seven provinces, with Ontario joining that number. This is a clear and very positive demonstration that the behaviours of motorists who drive while unlicensed are now part of Ontario’s road safety agenda. Driving is a privilege, and not a right. Our hope is that holding unlicensed drivers to account by impounding their vehicles will be a powerful deterrent – particulalry given the disregard for the law that driving unlicensed demonstrates.”

“Greg’s Law” is named in memory of OPP Sergeant Greg Stobbart, Ms. McMahon’s husband, who was killed while on an off duty training ride on his bicycle on June 6, 2006 in Milton, Ontario just north of their home in Burlington. The driver who killed Sergeant Stobbart had a significant history of several infractions including 5 convictions for driving while his license was under suspsension.

Since his death, Ms. McMahon has advocated for this legislative change, and in particular, penalities like those found in Section 172 of the Highway Traffic Action (the street racing legislation) which provide for vehicle impoundment, fines and a further license suspension. Those penalities, which research has demonstrated act as a powerful deterrent are now part of “Greg’s Law”. Officials estimate that the Bill will come into force by the fall of 2010.

“It is very gratifying to have this law passed in my husband’s memory. The knowledge that Greg’s Law will provide his colleagues in law enforcement with an important tool to keep suspended and unlicensed drivers off our roads, gives us a level of comfort that lives can be saved, and perhaps other families can be spared the kind of loss we suffered,” said McMahon.

“When they continue to drive, despite the removal of privilieges, these drivers are breaking the law, with their victims and their victim’s families left to pay the terrible social and human costs associated with the losses they cause,” she noted.

McMahon underscored the issue by pointing to research from MADD Canada and the Ministry of Transportation (MTO):

• Over 500,000 drivers are currently listed as unlicensed and suspended by the Ministry of Transportation.
• Upwards of 75% of unlicensed drivers in the province, continue to drive (MTO).
• Approximately 2,000 fatal and injury crashes involving unlicensed drivers occur annually.
• One in 14 fatal crashes involves an unlicensed driver.
• Crashes involving an unlicensed driver are more than twice as likely to have a fatal outcome.
• Unlicensed drivers are one and a half times more likely to be at fault in the crash.

“I would like to thank Commisioner Fantino, and the members of the Ontario Provincial Police, for their leadership and support. I applaud Ministry Bradley and his officials, for ensuring that this important piece of legislation was tabled. The support by both Opposition parties was also helpful in ensuring speedy passage. It is wonderful to see all party support for this kind of important road safety initiative,” said McMahon.

“Ultimately, we will all be safer once this law is in force, and I look forward to working with law enforcement and the MTO in putting the regulatory framework in place to see Greg’s Law in force as quickly as possible,” McMahon added.