Does  Ottawa needs a safe cycling educational campaign to help cut down on the number of cyclists killed and injured in Ottawa ?  Yes, says the president of Citizens for Safe Cycling. “I think there’s a total lack of awareness with a lot of cyclists, how vulnerable they are,” Hans Moor said in an interview with the Citizen Saturday. “It’s on both sides, of course — the number of drivers you see running red lights, turning right without indicating, driving through stop signs. On both sides, we need more education.”

Moor made the comments at a time when a 71-year-old cyclist was fighting for his life in hospital after being hit by a car on Hawthorne Road, just north of Hunt Club Road, early Saturday afternoon. The accident comes in a year that has already seen four cycling fatalities in Ottawa:

- Alex Hayes, a 16-year-old high school student, was biking home from work at MacKinnon’s Foodland in Greely when he was struck by a vehicle and killed on Sept. 10. Forty-year-old Samira Mohamed Daoud has been charged with stealing a vehicle, driving drunk, and criminal negligence causing death.

- A 48-year-old cyclist died of head and neck injuries Sept. 4 after flipping over his handlebars while biking on Somerset Street East in the middle of the night. The cause of the accident is still being investigated.

- John Barton, 53, was killed while cycling to work on Aug. 13, when novice driver Aldenia Orchard turned right and hit him with her Chevrolet Tracker.

- 16-year-old Robin Freeman was struck by a motorcycle while riding his BMX bike on Carling Avenue May 16. The driver of the motorcycle, 26-year-old Kyle Ferguson, also died as a result of the crash.

Moor said his organization is considering running an education campaign next year, and would like to partner with the provincial or municipal governments. An ad on the side of an OC Transpo bus featuring the mayor in a bike helmet, urging people to cycle safely, could go a long way toward raising public awareness, he said. Tom Trottier, past president of Citizens for Safe Cycling, said that although cycling deaths can understandably discourage people from biking around the city, in fact safety lies in numbers and the city should do more to encourage cycling. “The more cyclists there are, the safer they are. People get used to them, drivers get used to them, and they get more respect,” Trottier said. Trottier and Moor agreed that the city is taking some positive steps — with new cycle lanes painted on Lyon Street and plans for a pilot project next summer to create a segregated cycle lane east-west across downtown. Mayoral candidate Clive Doucet said the road infrastructure throughout the city should be improved for cyclists. “The only way you’re going to make these things safe is paving the shoulders and creating a dedicated cycle lane,” he said. Mayor Larry O’Brien said the recent spate of cyclist fatalities and injuries is moving cycling from being a social issue to a public safety issue. “The first priority of any government is the safety of its citizens,” he said, noting the city has been working with the NCC and the planning department to address the changes needed. “(The number of accidents) reinforces the need to continue looking at the transportation plan to see where the plan can accommodate cyclists. “The city is active on this file and we can’t take our foot off the gas on this one,” he said. 

Source:  The Ottawa Citizen

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Ottawa Ontario Personal Injury Lawyer David Hollingsworth has been helping Ottawa and Ontario accident victims since 1999. With his extensive experience and knowledge of relevant accident and personal injury issues, he has recovered millions of dollars in settlements  on behalf of his personal injury clients. David has the experience and skill to obtain maximum compensation for his personal injury clients. David offers free consultations and makes  home visits or hospital visits. Visit www.ottawainjury.ca for more information. David understands, he cares and he is here to help.

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