Get youth off bikes says Ontario MPP

By Inside Motorcycles staff

In Ontario, Bill 117, a proposed ban of anyone under 14 riding as a passenger on a road motorcycle that was introduced as a Private Member’s Bill, received first reading in late October.

The idea came from MPP Dr. Helena Jaczek, a Liberal member representing Oak Ridges-Markham. She is also Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health Promotion. She was previously Chief Medical Officer of Health for the Region of York for 18 years until her election to the Legislature in 2007.

The proposed bill states, “No person shall drive or operate a motorcycle on a highway if another person under the age of 14 years is a passenger on the motorcycle.”

Even though private member initiatives rarely succeed, various rider associations have already begun awareness campaigns suggesting riders express their opinions to their elected representatives, government ministers and even the Premier.

Email and contact information for all members of the Ontario Legislature, including Dr. Jaczek, can be found at www.ontla.on.ca by clicking through the heading “Members (MPPs)”.