After a 49-year-old female cyclist died Wednesday morning after colliding with a propane truck, members of a cycling coalition say more steps need to be taken to ensure the safety of cyclists.
Halifax Regional Police responded to the collision at the intersection of Purcells Cove Road and Spinnaker Drive at 8:39 a.m.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Blair Barrington of the Halifax Cycling Coalition says members want the city to have sideguards put on trucks, like they do in Montreal and Boston, to avoid these accidents.
“It can reduce the chance of fatalities by 60 per cent,” he said.
Barrington says sideguards prevent cyclists from being swept under a truck during a collision.
There are bicycle lanes on both sides of Purcells Cove Road, but not in the area where it meets Herring Cove Road, and where the 49-year-old was killed.
“I think a lot of people would feel that’s a difficult intersection to navigate,” said Barrington.
The bicycle lanes on one side of the road begin less than 100 metres from the site of the collision.
“There's cycling lanes, then it stops. Then cycling lane, and it stops,” said cyclist Rafah Dicostanzo. “The city's got to do something about that.”
Dicostanzo says she tries to avoid the busier roads altogether.
“Herring Cove (Road) somehow was easier and there was more room, but Purcells Cove (Road) was dangerous all the way,” she said. “We avoided using it since.”
Purcells Cove Road between Spinnaker Drive and Herring Cove Road was closed to traffic for several hours while police investigated the crash.
It reopened to traffic before 3:30 p.m.
The woman is the second cyclist to die in Halifax while biking, and the fourth in ten years.
“They've all collided with large trucks,” said Barrington.
Police have not yet identified the victim.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Rick Grant.
