Last night in High Park #TorontoPolice outside were the cyclists shooting at the radar. They made it armed and adorned with thin spots of blue lines. A day before the leader issues an apology for disproportionate use of force and strip searches against black Torontonians, anti-black racism. pic.twitter.com/FUZWyByyRQ

— The Biking Lawyer (Dave Shellnutt) (@TheBikingLawyer) June 15, 2022

A Toronto-based personal injury lawyer and cycling advocate has criticized what he calls a “targeted campaign” by police to catch speeding cyclists in city parks.

Police were spotted earlier this week using radar guns in the Canadian city’s High Park, a popular haunt for cyclists crossing it to avoid the area’s busy – and often dangerous – cycle paths.

David Shellnut is one of several Toronto cyclists critical of the campaign, in place since at least the summer of 2020, which the lawyer says is a waste of resources, citing police’s own data on injuries from cyclists versus drivers to support his case.

According to the Toronto Police database, 1 in nearly 17,000 fatality or serious injury (KSI) crashes since 2006 has occurred in High Park. None in the main loop so popular with cyclists. This effort is at best a distraction from making our streets safer for all road users. h/t: @dereklind https://t.co/lv3I1iDunB pic.twitter.com/MF07y3OK2m

— MWCC (@midweekcycling) June 16, 2022

“One of my friends [was] crossing the park on the way to work and [was given] a $120 bill,” Shellnut told blogTO.

“The next week he was biking in the bike path adjacent to the park – he likes the park to stay safe – so he’s like, ‘I guess I’ll just go to the bike path next door’ and gets hit by a right-turning driver who does not yield the right of way and smashes his collarbone.

“Driver gets fewer tickets than my client for speeding on his ’70s Raleigh in High Park.”

Shellnut continued: “People are being killed in the street next to [the park]. It makes no sense what they are trying to do.

“If your guys have to ask for an extra $25 million every year and resources are limited, what are they doing spending money on things that aren’t really a problem? There are no statistics to back up what they do.

Interestingly, this is always “the best use of limited police resources” and somehow monitoring cyclists was high on that list?

— Brian 🇺🇦 (@Bravado_5) June 15, 2022

The lawyer also told the website that cyclists, especially those from a minority background, felt “sort of uncomfortable, terrorized” by the constant police presence – and the use of an object similar to a gun – in the park. Toronto’s police chief issued an apology last week after a recent study found racial profiling and discrimination to be a systemic problem within the police force.

Shellnut acknowledged that pedestrians can “get a little nervous when a cyclist passes through the park. I’m sure it happens, and I’m not disregarding anyone’s feelings or experiences, but [seeking] solutions to these problems”, one of which is a possible morning slot dedicated to cyclists in the park to get to work quickly and safely.

“Just because we have a billion dollar hammer doesn’t mean every problem is a nail,” he said.

I can still hear the police coming out in High Park. Sorry to ruin your day. Cautious riders.

— The Biking Lawyer (Dave Shellnutt) (@TheBikingLawyer) June 21, 2022

A Toronto police spokesperson defended the anti-speeding campaign in the park, saying it is being conducted “in response to concerns and to help keep the community safe.”

“Members worked with by-law officers in stopping vehicles and cyclists witnessed them speeding or committing offenses such as failing to stop at stop signs. Police and enforcement officers educate the driver or passenger on their behavior.

“These members line up at stop signs at various locations in the park. This served as an educational document for cyclists who were informed of the HTA infractions they might face as well as the inherent dangers of going too fast. Toronto Police Auxiliary officers have also been assigned to patrol the park as well.

“It has been well received by the local community as well as park visitors.”