Letter to Editor, St. Catharines Standard May 1999

At 1 PM on September 28, 1998 a southbound dump truck pulling a trailer approached a short, steep two lane railroad bridge. The small community of Merritton, a suburb of St.Catharines Ontario, was coming out of the lunch hour, as busy people hurried about their errands, at the intersection just north of the hill's crest. Just ahead of the dump truck, a lone cyclist strained to climb the hill. He began the cool coast down the back side,when he felt, before he heard, the steel and rubber pass him. His heart must have frozen, as the truck driver drifted right, forcing him into the rubble and holes at the edge of the roadway. It was to be his heart's last experience. A few short beats later he was crushed beneath the wheels. He leaves a wife, and young child.
On Tuesday May 18, 1999. The truck driver, a 56 year old father of four, left the Provincial Court House $500 poorer. His legal penance complete, he is back driving today.
How do such ludicrous events happen with such sickening regularity in this Province?
The Crown Prosecutor is quoted as saying the truck driver "was not speeding or showing a reckless disregard for anyone's safety". How does someone die as a result of a safe manouever? The result of passing a vehicle while on a narrow bridge, with a concrete curb, and railing in the middle (for added flavour), is fatal. Would it have shown a
"reckless disregard for safety" if the victim's vehicle had been a car? The result of this story is that, once again, the perception of drivers is that cyclists need not be afforded the right of passage, neither the law nor the Police will
protect them, and they can be flattened for "half- a- thou".
I am ashamed of the way this case was mishandled by the Police and the Crown. I am also ashamed of a Provincial Government that refuses to enforce it's own rules and regulations, and protect it's citizens equally.
This engenders disrespect for the law.
That endangers us all.
The foregoing true story was reported in the St.Catharines Standard, May 19,1999, by Cheryl Stepan. This is my version of the report as read.
Friends,
It is my considered opinion that we are in imminent danger of losing our rights
and priveleges on the roads of this Province. We are CERTAINLY in danger of losing our lives. Could you please stop spinning for a moment? Have I your attention?
I believe that, due to inertia, indifference, and dereliction of duty, the Office of the Attorney General of Ontario, http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/contact.htm
the Minister of Transportation, http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/feedback/minister.htm
and the Solicitor General of Ontario, http://www.sgcs.gov.on.ca/
have endevoured to erode OUR rights to safely use the roadways of this Province.
They have accomplished this by neglecting to plan, promote, enforce, and prosecute the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario, as it relates to bicycle use. If you are offended by the facts of this case, as I am, please refer to
http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/cycling/coroner_recomend.htm#recommend
and the findings of W.J. Lucas MD CCFP, Regional Coroner for Toronto. I specifically refer to Section F, Recommendation#12, which states that the Highway Traffic Act must be re-written to provide that motorized vehicles yield
to non-motorized vehicles. (This rule applies to aircraft and watercraft). Does this make "Common sense"? I suggest that, wether or not you agree with the Coroner's recommendation, you contact the above mentioned Ministries/Ministers, and tell them you're tired of riding scared! Tell them you DEMAND to be safe and FEEL safe on YOUR roadway! (You DO ride to the trailhead, don't you?)
When enough of us send such a message, they WILL listen. Make this your personal millenium project. Ask a friend to help. Lets make the b*****ds do their job!!
Thanks for your time.
Dave Arnott