A little girl who was crossing the street to get to her school bus was hit by a cyclist on Le Plateau-Mont-Royal on Thursday morning. This is a clear violation of the Road Safety Code that Vélo Québec denounces across the board.
In a video first broadcast on the social network X on Thursday, we can see that the young girl is near a parked car on the other side of the street. The scene occurred at the very beginning of the day, shortly after 9 a.m.
When her school bus arrives, the girl crosses the street to join it and that’s when a cyclist who had not stopped collides with her.
“This is not the first time this has happened, including to my own son. (…) There is still a lot to do on (rue) Jeanne-Mance,” resident Mayer Freig denounced Thursday in a tweet, sharing images taken from a residential surveillance camera. He also said that the child is doing well.
For Magali Bebronne, program director at Vélo Québec, “the cyclist is obviously 100% at fault and that is unacceptable.” “There are no mitigating circumstances. We see this and we are completely appalled,” she says.
“The only thing is that until 2018, it was not specified, the behavior of a cyclist in front of a bus with flashing lights, but since then, it has been clearly written that he has the obligation to stop at least five meters away. We are therefore really dealing here with a behavioral problem,” continues M.me Brebonne.
Against the direction
In this sector of rue Jeanne-Mance, the configuration of the cycle lane is made in the opposite direction to car traffic, which however does not pose any challenges for Vélo Québec. “On the contrary, we think it’s good because it offers cycle routes on less busy streets, where there is less risk of collisions,” says the manager.
According to the Highway Safety Code, a cyclist who does not stop near a bus whose intermittent red lights are running is liable to a fine of $80 to $100. The driver of a vehicle is liable to a fine of $200 to $300 in addition to receiving 9 demerit points.
At the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM), agent and spokesperson Sabrina Gauthier indicated Thursday that no call was made to 911 in connection with this case. “If the person involved wishes, we will be happy to open a file. The cyclist is clearly committing an offense so a statement of offense would then be given,” assured M.me Gauthier.
“I am relieved to read that the child is doing well despite the collision. The Highway Safety Code applies to everyone to protect the most vulnerable. Respect and vigilance are required. An accident happened too quickly,” argued the leader of the opposition, Aref Salem.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante had not yet reacted to this matter at the time of publication.
reference: www.lapresse.ca