May 16, 2025 - (Toronto, ON) The Share the Road Cycling Coalition, Ontario’s cycling advocacy and policy organization, today launched an important cycling and road safety education campaign and Public Service Announcement (PSA) during Canada Road Safety Week.
Titled “Too Close For Comfort” the PSA speaks to the importance of complying with laws that protect both cyclists and motorists, including the One-Meter Safe Passing law in Ontario, requiring drivers to maintain a one-meter distance when passing cyclists.
Featuring a man going about his day seemingly oblivious to others’ personal space, like using a tap someone else is already using to wash his hands in a public restroom, and pushing his way into an elevator already packed with people, the PSA ends with the screeching sound of vehicle tires and a bicycle on the ground. Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Commissioner Thomas Carrique concludes the PSA with a reminder to viewers to pass cyclists safely – it’s the law.
The One-Meter Passing Law (2015) forms part of the Making Ontario’s Roads Safer Act (Bill 31). Under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act (HTA), a bicycle is considered a vehicle, like a car or truck. Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists, and must comply with all traffic laws. When passing a cyclist, motorists must maintain a minimum distance of one metre between their vehicle and the cyclist.
The Coalition helped to catalyze change in Ontario and beyond, advocating for the province’s adoption of the “One Metre Passing Law”, becoming the second jurisdiction in Canada to do so. Nova Scotia, Quebec, New Brunswick, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador also have related laws, and similar Acts in other provinces and territories provide recommendations to drivers to safely pass cyclists.
The “Too Close For Comfort” education campaign and PSA is supported by Share the Road, the OPP, CAA South Central Ontario, the Les Domestiques Cycling Club and the award-winning advertising agency theturnlab.
“Our goal is to raise awareness of the importance of sharing the road, of obeying the laws that govern our roads, and about the importance of caring for each other in the spirit of community and mutual responsibility,” said Eleanor McMahon, Founder and Board Chair, Share the Road Cycling Coalition. “We are all on the road together, every day – let’s make sure we do so safely given that the cyclist beside us or in front of us is our neighbor – and what we have in common is that we all want to get home safely.”
“As Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police, I take this opportunity to remind Ontarians of their responsibilities under the laws that govern our roads. Our members in communities across the province are committed to keeping Ontarians and our roads safe,” said Thomas Carrique. “We value our partnership with the Share the Road Cycling Coalition, which was founded as a result of the tragic loss of one of our members, Sergeant Greg Stobbart in a preventable cycling collision.”
“CAA South Central Ontario is committed to enhancing road safety. Education and awareness campaigns support that mission by reminding all road users of their responsibility to follow the rules of the road so that every Ontarian can get to their destination safely,” said Teresa Di Felice, AVP, Government and Community Relations, CAA South Central Ontario.
“This campaign is very personal to me, and to my colleagues at theturnlab. I have been a cyclist all my life and advocating for safer roads for cyclists has been a part of my professional and personal life for decades,” said Howard Chang, Executive Chair, theturnlab. “We are delighted to support the work of the Share the Road Cycling Coalition and to contribute the knowledge, skills and abilities of our agency in support of this critical message.”
This important campaign comes on the eve of the first long weekend of summer and during Canada Road Safety Week, as well as ahead of the 16th annual Ontario Bike Summit, happening May 27-29 in Windsor. The Summit is expected to draw 250 delegates, including elected representatives from all levels of government, municipal and provincial staff and industry leaders from across Canada and internationally to share innovations, best practices and opportunities for progress in cycling safety.
