A concrete truck apparently right-hooked a cyclist at York Boulevard and James Street North and killed him. Sad situation and definitely underscores the need for safer bicycle infrastructure like the protected cycle tracks on Cannon St., right-on-red bans downtown, and expansion of phased traffic signals to give pedestrian and cyclists a head start before green-lighting traffic (including left and right turns).
Quote:
Cyclist killed after being struck by driver operating cement truck, police say
Police say this is the city’s 11th fatality of the year and the first involving a cyclist
CBC News · Posted: Sep 29, 2023 9:06 AM EDT | Last Updated: 31 minutes ago
After a collision downtown late Thursday afternoon with a cement truck, police say, a cyclist was killed.
Police say a male cyclist was heading east on York Boulevard approaching James Street North at about 4 p.m. when he was struck by a driver operating a cement truck turning right onto James.
Police say the cyclist died at the scene and the driver "is co-operating with investigators."
The intersection was closed for several hours for the investigation.
Police say the cyclist had no identification on him and Investigators are working with the coroner's office to identify him.
David Shellnutt, managing partner of The Biking Lawyer LLP, lawyers for injured cyclists, said the cyclist "was travelling on York St, which has a painted bike lane only. Perhaps with safe secure infrastructure and/or a protected intersection this collision could have been avoided."
Shellnutt said "Paint is no substitute for concrete barriers and bollards. We encourage Hamilton City Council to continue with robust traffic calming and safe infrastructure plans."
Police are asking anyone in the area to share any information that might assist with the investigation. You can contact the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 905-546-4753 or Reconunit@hamiltonpolice.ca.
Police say this is the city's 11th fatality of the year and the first involving a cyclist.
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It also seems fairly likely, based on the cyclist having no ID on them and the incident's proximity to the shelter on York Blvd, that the cyclist was part of a vulnerable population associated with that facility. Not trying to victim blame here (quite the opposite). Rather, in places like this, where it is known that there is a high concentration of a sometimes-erratic vulnerable population, the need for safer (and more forgiving) pedestrian and cycling infrastructure is heightened and would benefit everyone.
In Vancouver's perennially troubled downtown eastside, the maximum road speed for several blocks has been permanently reduced to the school zone speed of 30 kph because the population there is so erratic and frequently walks out into traffic. The lower vehicle speeds simply increases the survivability of the inevitable collisions. It's not a solution, per se, but rather a pragmatic harm reduction response.
With all that said, there's basically no worse scenario for a cyclist (or pedestrian) than a right-turning concrete truck running a person over. Speed is irrelevant when so much mass is involved. I also think the benefits of back-up cameras have been so apparent that right-turn blind spot cameras should become mandatory for heavy vehicles operating in a city.
Anyway, a sad situation all around.
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