I'm sad to report that another cyclist has been killed on the streets on Mississauga. From the few details provided by the police and media, it sounds like the cyclist was riding westbound on Bloor St. at Riverspray Cres. (Between Tomken and Dixie), when he was struck from behind by two motor vehicles.
Still not too many details available, but Peel Regional Police are looking for more witnesses. Here's the text from the Police press release:
Peel Police - Motor Vehicle Collision – Cyclist Struck
November 25, 2009Mississauga – Investigators from the Peel Regional Police Major Collision Bureau are appealing for witnesses to come forward, as they investigate the circumstances surrounding a motor vehicle collision that has claimed the life of a Mississauga man.
On Tuesday, November 25, 2009, at approximately 6:38 p.m., a cyclist was riding his bicycle westbound along Bloor Street near Riverspray Crescent. For reasons still under investigation, the cyclist turned into the pathway of a green, 2001 Mazda Protégé, which was also travelling westbound. The cyclist was knocked off his bike and was struck by a brown, 2008 Buick Allure, which was also travelling westbound.
As a result of the accident, the victim, a 45 year-old Mississauga man, was fatally injured and died at the scene. The drivers of the motor vehicles were uninjured.
The victim’s identity is not being released at this time.
Investigators are urging anyone who may have witnessed to the collision, or may have information on the matter, to come forward.
The investigation is continuing by members of the Major Collision Bureau. Anyone with information is asked to contact officers at (905) 453-2121, ext 3710. Information can also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by visiting the website www.peelcrimestoppers.ca or by texting “PEEL”, followed by your tip, to CRIMES (274637).
For media inquiries, please contact the on-duty Media Relations Officer at (905) 453-2121, ext. 4027.
Media coverage:
- Cyclist dies after being hit by car in Mississauga, CP24, Nov. 24
- Cyclist struck, killed, Mississauga News, Nov. 25
Comments
John-Henry (not verified)
Mississauga
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 11:50Them's dangerous ridin' partner. 'Sauga's car country I reckon. Not even fit for those of us with two legs.
RIP the victim.
skeptical_of_peel (not verified)
Are you for real?
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 16:15De mortuis nil nisi bonum.
I enjoyed the part of the release by peel police which states,
"For reasons still under investigation, the cyclist turned into the pathway of a green, 2001 Mazda Protégé, which was also travelling westbound."
Let me write the predictable script. The mazda driver was either in the process of deliberately "buzzing" him or passing unsafely(not leaving any room). If police can't figure out any obvious reason why the cyclist moved, say, road debris nearby then one can only assume the driver of the mazda is a liar. Yes Peel police, drivers lie to you regularly especially when they've done something wrong. Either way the mazda driver just murdered somebody and the clueless driver of the tailgating buick finished him. At any rate the mazda driver is for sure at fault, you can't just rear-end a cyclist in the same lane as you and then blame it on the cyclist not staying perfectly still as you tried to buzz past them. Here is hoping that a real impartial witness can come forward so that a bit of justice can be done on behalf of the victims friends and family.
Another road-tragedy at the hands of a mindless drone. 2009 has been an awful year for cyclists.
SunnySide1
Condolences
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 12:12I commute daily and cycle in both the city and the 'burbs, so I have solid experience in both venues. The suburbs are considerably more dangerous. The car drivers in the suburbs seem to feel far more entitled (or are far more incompetent), and act accordingly. Certainly I feel much more crowded by cars on wide suburban roads than I do on narrower city roads. And receive far more verbal abuse/threatening behaviour. In addition there are relatively more obstacles on the sides of the road in the 'burbs - broken bottles and other debris, and lots of badly broken pavement, that one might need to skirt around with little warning.
This is all speculation at this point, and may remain so.
Whatever happened, its a tragedy.
My condolences to his family.
vic
Disagree somewhat
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 13:21I think my opinion of cycling in the city vs. burbs is a bit different from yours.
I commute from the Junction Triangle area in the west end out to "downtown" Mississauga. The "Toronto" parts of my ride are definitely worse than the Mississauga parts. In Toronto, the roads are more congested and motorists tend to take more liberties when passing me. In Mississauga the roads are wider and less crowded, and I'm usually given more room when being passed.
Actually, I think the worst parts of my commute are somewhere in between: Etobicoke. Whether I take Bloor St. or Dundas / Burnhamthorpe, it typically feels like much more of a rat race on the Etobicoke section of my rides. More honking, more aggressive motorists, and more "incidents" where douchebags have actually got out of their cars to come yell at me. It's like half of Etobicoke residents have a gas pedal wedged firmly up their butts.
I cycle past the location of yesterday's collision fairly frequently. It doesn't come across as being a particularly dangerous stretch of road. The traffic isn't that heavy even during rush hour. Though because of the lack of congestion, the traffic sometimes moves pretty fast. I guess I'm not surprised that a cyclist was hit from behind by two motorists. They must have been going too fast and / or not paying attention.
Resident (not verified)
Biker
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 15:00The cyclist apparently swereved too far into the lane he was sharing with the car. He could have lost his balance. Also, he wasnt wearing a helmet! This could have saved hsi life. RIP to him, and I hope the drivers and the victims families stay strong.
The site of the accident was a zoo, and hopefully will be turned into a memorial. Cyclists, please wear your helmets, and drivers.. keep in mind that even a though a responsible cyclist knows youre sharing the lane withhim, it is possible he may fall, and he is no match for you. Switch lanes if possible
electric
Helmet or not.
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 20:25The person driving the Mazda struck him down whilst passing unsafely. Then the driver of the Buick crushed him to death whilst following too closely.
It would be nice to think a simple magical helmet can save you from this sort of accident but, you'd have to prove that first.
In lieu of magical helmets, just give vulnerable people the space and respect they deserve when you drive your car as they are people just trying to live their lives.
As for why one wishes the drivers remain strong... not sure where you're going with that, those drivers just did a terrible thing, they took a man's life - everything he had and ever would of had.
Why, that is what those drivers should be asking themselves. I hope they don't remain strong but, instead do something appropriate instead of just brushing it under the rug.
My condolences to the victim's family.
jamesmallon (not verified)
sick of it
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 18:07I am so sick of the toll. I don't think I will come back to Canada from my job posting to Tokyo. There I cycled for three years without always being in fear of my life, though the roads are narrower, and the streets more congested. It's the culture here. Ontarians are simply @$$holes in cars, and often out of them too.
Kevin Love
Don't be a victim: always take the lane
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 22:56My sincere thoughts and prayers are with the victim and his family. This tragedy is horrific. But the worst thing is that this crash appears to have been preventable. It was caused by the sort of dangerous behaviour that I see every day.
The reports that I have seen indicate that the victim failed to take the lane. This invited cars to pass in the same lane in an area where the lane is too narrow to do so safely. The unfortunate and inevitable crash was no accident, but the logical consequence of the cyclist failing to take the lane.
This does not absolve the car drivers from their responsibility to drive safely and not pass unsafely. But it does mean that the cyclist invited the unsafe pass.
Let me plead with all cyclists in Toronto and Mississauga: please, please always take the lane. Always, always do so. A lane must be 5.6 metres wide to safely share with a car passing in the lane. There are virtually zero Toronto or Mississauga lanes that are that wide.
It could be anything - debris, a pothole or any other road obstruction that requires a cyclist to make a sudden and unplanned swerve. Failure to take the lane can make this situation deadly.
Let us make this death have some meaning. Let it inspire all of us to take the lane all of the time. No more unsafe "gutter bunny" behaviour.
Please, please everyone - ride safely. That means taking the lane all the time, everywhere.