Victoria councillor calls for mandatory side guards on city trucks after cycling incident

A Victoria city councillor is bringing a motion forward to install side guards on all city-owned trucks following a collision involving a cyclist near the Johnson Street Bridge earlier this month.

On July 5th, a live camera mounted on Swans Hotel’s captured a cyclist crossing Pandora Avenue at Store Street in the two-way bike lane when they’re struck by a truck turning right onto the bridge.

The cyclist momentarily appears to be pulled into the vehicle’s back tire before being knocked forward and out from under the truck.

Bystanders and the driver of the truck could be seen rushing to the aid of the cyclist.

Fortunately in this case, the cyclist was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to VicPD.

Following this incident, Councillor Stephen Andrew announced his intention of proposing a motion at today’s Committee of the Whole meeting.

Andrew’s motion is proposing that guards be installed on all City of Victoria-owned and contracted trucks, but a full review of the city’s vehicle fleet to ensure side mirrors are installed and in working order.

In his motion letter, Andrews reflects on a similar incident in Vancouver a few days prior that saw 28-year-old cyclist Agustin Beltran killed in a crash with a truck at Pacific and Hornby streets on June 29th.

Following the incident, Vancouver’s city council unanimously passed a motion requiring side guards on all heavy trucks owned and contracted by the city.

In both cases, cycling advocates argue that both cyclists had the right of way and side bars on large trucks would have prevented the incidents, and the ‘simple’ safety measure would help prevent similar tragedies in the future.

“We have a lot of work to do to make our streets safer for cyclists, pedestrians, and all road users,” said Councillor Stephen Andrew.

“This includes ensuring city owned/contracted vehicles are fitted with side guards to prevent what happened on Store St. three weeks ago.”

Andrew’s also said council should also advocate to Canada’s Minister of Transportation calling for the federal government to make side guards mandatory countrywide on large, heavy and semi-trucks in urban areas.

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