Victoria bike crash sparks renewed calls for safety bars on trucks

Another terrifying collision involving a cyclist and a lorry in Victoria has prompted supporters to once again call for side bars on large trucks.

In video taken Tuesday morning, a cyclist can be seen crossing an intersection near the Johnson Street Bridge, before being hit by a truck making a right turn at a red light.

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

In either case, cycling advocates argue that both cyclists have the right-of-way and that side rails on large trucks will prevent crashes and that ‘simple’ safety measures will help prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Capital Bike spokesman Corey Burger said: “It really highlights where the restrictions are, you can build a great safe road and reduce accidents, just like Vancouver did. it’s a very similar type of intersection.

“It shows that Transport Canada needs to step up and require truck side protection so that when mistakes happen like this, someone other than the unfortunate loses their life as in Vancouver,” he added.

Victoria Police told Global News it was unable to comment on who is entitled in this situation as the case is still under investigation.

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

Jeff Leigh with Hub Cycling said: “I think the responsibility lies with the driver of the vehicle.

“It was simply because when we watched the video again, we saw the lights, the signal, and we saw both of them cycling marked protected in the lighted crosswalk, they were riding where should have come.”

However, he noted that they also need to be aware that the truck driver may not be able to see them.

According to the BC Trucks Association, overhead vehicles with drivers sitting on the left make it difficult to notice cyclists or pedestrians when turning right.

Spokesman Dave Earle said: “Commercial vehicles have very large blind spots, and drivers must be properly trained to ensure they clear their blind spots.

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

Global News has reached out to Transport Canada and Transport BC regarding the matter but has not received a response.

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