More Progress

Accidents have always been the most efficient spur to effect change whether it is the sinking of the Titanic or a fatal accident involving a cyclist as was the sad occurrence again last week in Montreal.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1141635/securite-routiere-et-partage-de-la-route-entre-cyclistes-et-automobilistes-des-mesures-additionnelles-mises-en-place-dans-griffintown


It is also sad to read so many comments online in response to the various news reports that tend to lay the blame uniquely on the cyclist. 

If an accident occurs in a work environment, there is a responsibility to investigate the incident in a full and thorough manner. When this is done in a cursory and superficial manner, the result is invariably that the injured worker was 'careless' or 'negligent' or 'not following established procedures'. What is lacking is a determination of the root cause(s) of the accident with corresponding corrective actions to prevent a re-occurrence.

It is not difficult to relate a similar, superficial attitude towards cyclists and accidents involving cyclists. 

In the incident last week, one news report mentioned witnesses seeing the cyclist weaving through cars stopped at a red light before the accident.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2013/04/03/montreal-cyclist-fatal-collision.html

This subjective information can be a barrier to allowing a more expansive consideration of why the accident occurred, what are the inherent risks in the area and how to mitigate them. 

Some data that might be taken into account for this section of Rue Wellington is:

1) Who are the users and are they the same as when the road was originally constructed? Is the land use the same or is it in transition?

2) What is the impact on traffic during this transition phase? What temporary measures such as a reduction in speed or additional signage have been taken?

3) What infrastructure is in place to alert traffic to the possibility of encountering cyclists or pedestrians?

4) Why is there a section of the road that has no sidewalk on one side and why has a guardrail been installed here to prevent vehicles from going off the road when the speed limit is 50 km/h?

5) Does this guardrail protect vehicles or does it block a means of escape for a cyclist who might be crowded over by traffic?

This is certainly one of many, many hazardous locations around the city for cyclists and pedestrians alike. Raising awareness of the hazards for all users is certainly a component of reducing accidents and injuries, but the first priority should be to endeavour to engineer more secure infrastructure solutions.

And it should not need to take years of study to do so.