Two local cyclists died last week on the same day. Both were crushed under the wheels of trucks. Two in one day. One, as Lloyd Alter reported here, was a University of Toronto Professor - a long time cyclist and athlete. It is time for Toronto to take the steps required to prevent these avoidable deaths. It is also time for the city to wholeheartedly embrace and promote cycling as a viable alternative to cars, SUVs, and buses.

What can the city do to help prevent deaths of this type? The ARC's (Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists) Wiki has some details:

In Great Britain, trucks of a certain size are required by law to be equipped with sideguards between front and back wheels. These prevent pedestrians, cyclists and smaller motor vehicles from rolling or falling underneath the body of the truck. Apparently, the British legislation can be shown to have saved lives.

In Canada there is no such legislation, although the Coroner's Report on cycling death in Toronto recommended that Transport Canada consider it. Toronto City Councillor Joe Mehevc has also called for Toronto City Council to consider it.

Until recently, the person responsible for handling such matters has ben Ian Noy, Director, Standards Research and Development, Transport Canada, at 613-998-2268 (he has apparently moved to a new position). He has commented in private conversation that the adjustment is relatively expensive, and that there are not enough deaths in Canada to make it a pressing issue for the trucking industry.

I disagree about the cost of this measure. Steel barriers of the type shown here are not expensive. They save lives. Done on a large scale, the cost on a per truck basis of retrofitting all of the city's large trucks is relatively low. The retrofit could be phased in over a five year period on existing trucks and be mandatory on new trucks produced as of 2010.

For car drivers who don't think this applies to them, these guards will save more motorists from injury or death than it will cyclists. Think about it.

1. The City should take a look at Copenhagen, Gothenburg, and/or Amsterdam for some innovative ways of not only accommodating but encouraging cycling in busy (and often cold/snowy/rainy) cities. In fact the Copenhagen website has a great 20 min. video about what they have done to encourage safe cycling (http://www.vejpark.kk.dk/byenstrafik/cyklernesby/uk/index.htm). The film reports that cyclists will soon represent 40% of commuters in Copenhagen, which along with public transit users means that fewer people drive to work than use other forms of transportation. We should be so progressive!

   Posted by  on  04/24  at  09:35 AM

2. I came to Toronto in 2001 and for me it is clear to see how the city is falling back in some crucial urban standards.

   The city’s transit looks going to the chaos, it is hard to see a Police officer controlling or checking the transit/drivers/cyclists.

   From not allowed turns to drinking and driving people are doing however they want on the streets.

   I see that the action number one should be a better transit control made by the Police, more walking patrols, more tickets for both bad cyclists and drivers.

   Posted by  on  04/24  at  10:16 AM
4. For immediate release. For more information – Darren Stehr 416-707-4744 Cyclist Memorials Thursday April 27th, 2006 The Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists announces two memorials for the two cyclists killed on April 20th, 2006. Morning memorial – Avenue Rd & Cortleigh Blvd. approximately 830am Group ride from southeast corner of Spadina and Bloor, meet 745am, depart 8am. Evening memorial – Keele and Finch, approximately 8pm Group will meet at southeast corner of Spadina and Bloor at 645pm to board subway at 7pm. Group ride from Downsview Station, departing 730pm. Please meet at the main pedestrian entrance of Downsview Station. Please bring flowers. An effort is underway to install a Ghost Bike at each location. The Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists will be releasing an open letter, “City of Toronto includes Cyclists in its War on Citizens”, to the community on Tuesday April 25th, 2006, after 3pm on http://www.respect.to.
   
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Posted by  on  04/24  at  02:25 PM

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