On May 11, cyclist Andrew van der Westhuizen collided with a commercial truck crossing a multipurpose trail in the Juniper neighborhood of the inner city of BC. “Cyclist speed seems to be the main contributor to the collision,” said RCMP spokesman Const. Crystal Evelyn, after the conclusion of the municipal traffic investigation. “Our thoughts are with all those involved in this unfortunate situation.”
Concerns about cycling safety remain
The suspended speed limit along the trail is 20 km / h. However, cycling advocate and founder of the Kamloops Cycling Coalition Cheryl Fraser says speed is not possible for most cyclists. “I seriously wonder how this speed was determined taking into account the length and degree of the multipurpose route and that it is separate from the rest of the traffic,” he said. “At 20 km / h you should push very hard and brake completely down.” The marking indicates the speed limit of the multi-purpose route of 20 km / h. (Jenifer Norwell / CBC) Fraser said this situation is a call to action for all. “There has to be some very serious discussion at the local government level about prioritizing a culture that values cyclists and shows that they are very equal members on the road.” The city of Kamloops is trying to reduce the number of accidents on ring roads through the Vision Zero strategy. Details of this proposed plan will be submitted to the city council this fall. CBC News contacted van der Westhuizen’s family, who stated that they did not want to comment at this time.
