Bicycle accident in Victoria prompts renewed orders for safety bars on trucks | Globalnews.ca

Another terrifying collision involving a cyclist and a truck in Victoria has had defenders calling for sidebars on large trucks again.

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In video captured Tuesday morning, a bicyclist can be seen crossing an intersection near the Johnson Street Bridge, before being struck by a truck turning right at a red light.

This incident comes less than a week after Agustín Beltrán, 28, was killed in a crash with a dump truck at the intersection of Hornby Street and Pacific Boulevard in Vancouver.

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In both cases, cycling advocates argue that both cyclists had the right of way and side bars on the large trucks would have prevented the incidents, and the ‘simple’ safety measure would help prevent similar tragedies in the future.

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“It really highlights where the limitations are, you can build a fantastically safe street and reduce crashes, just like Vancouver did, it’s a very similar type of intersection,” said Corey Burger, spokesman for Capital Bike.

“It shows that Transport Canada needs to step up and require truck side guards so that when mistakes like this happen, someone doesn’t end up like in Vancouver, sadly losing their life,” he added.

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The Victoria Police Department told Global News it cannot comment on who had the right of way in the situation because the file is still under investigation.

However, a sign can be seen at the intersection prohibiting right turns at red lights, except for bicycles.

“I think the onus is on the operators of the vehicles,” said Jeff Leigh of Hub Cycling.

“That’s simply because in reviewing the video we see the lights, the signs and we see that both cyclists were riding in protected markings at the crosswalks with lights, they were going where they were supposed to be.”

However, he noted that it is up to them to also be aware that truck drivers may not be able to see them.

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According to the BC Truckers Association, the elevated vehicle with the driver sitting on the left side makes it difficult to notice bicyclists or pedestrians during a right turn.

“Commercial vehicles have very, very large blind spots, drivers are trained in best practices to make sure they clear their blind spots, it’s tough,” spokesman Dave Earle said.

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The driver remained at the scene and was cooperative with investigators. The cyclist was sent to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Global News has contacted Transport Canada and the BC Ministry of Transportation about the issue, but has not received a response.


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Yaletown slain cyclist memorial ride


Yaletown slain cyclist memorial ride

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