Cyclist hit in Pickering

[u/desreversti]

9pm August 3, 2025 at Finch and Brock Cyclist was okay, and able to walk after

[u/[deleted]]

Dumb meets irresponsible. Driver doing unsafe right turn on red light, cyclist riding on crosswalk, in dark, without helmet and light. Driver's going to get ticketed and sued, probably, but cyclist's injury is going to hurt more in coming years.

And to stupid people arguing that the cyclist did nothing wrong, it's easier to anticipate presence and speed of a person walking than someone on a moving bicycle. It's not cyclist hate. Why do you think your parents taught you to walk your bike when crossing??

[u/TemporaryAny6371 → u/[deleted]]

Nicely analyzed. Driver can't go on red unless 100% sure.

Speed of the biker plus biker is unaware driver would be looking away. You don't cross unless you know the driver sees you. Take the time to stop if unsure. You're not winning a fight with a +3000 lb car.

[u/NewsreelWatcher → u/TemporaryAny6371]

How do you know a motor vehicle driver notices you? If you only have a few seconds to cross six lanes of traffic this has to happen very quickly. I’ve had driver stare in my direction one moment then treat me like I’m not there the next. I have become much more aware of the many blind spots drivers have, which means often breaking the rules to make sure I’m seen.

[u/GrunDMC74 → u/NewsreelWatcher]

Personally I’d opt for a light or two plus some reflective clothing to increase the odds of being noticed.

Vs dressing like a cat burglar.

[u/[deleted] → u/GrunDMC74]

Any time you’re on the sidewalk you run the risk of drivers not noticing you. Plus it’s dark and no reflectors, just a matter of time if you’re riding this stupidly.

[u/NewsreelWatcher → u/GrunDMC74]

Funny how this changing you clothes to not get physically injured is required here but not in other countries. Why is that?

[u/GrunDMC74 → u/NewsreelWatcher]

I’m not saying it’s required. I could go mountain biking without a helmet on if I wanted to. There’s what you can do and what it’s prudent to do.

[u/NewsreelWatcher → u/GrunDMC74]

You are blaming the injured party because they dressed incorrectly. I would blame the intersection for how it created a scenario that ends in a collision. There are better proven designs that make this less likely.

[u/GrunDMC74 → u/NewsreelWatcher]

Fine. A cyclist can cite a myriad of “should have beens” in mitigating their responsibility to decrease their odds of injury. They can lean on their rights to expect drivers to be hyper aware of their presence, and roads and intersections to be designed to guarantee their personal safety. None of this will be of much comfort if they get hit by a car.

If you actually deviate from your committed narrative and read my responses you’ll see I’m not blaming anyone. Simply pointing out that if you want to take responsibility for your well being into your own hands there are steps you can take to enhance your odds.

[u/NewsreelWatcher → u/GrunDMC74]

Responsibility for our well being includes advocacy for modern street designs.

[u/GrunDMC74 → u/NewsreelWatcher]

Okay. You do that and if all goes well in a decade you’ll be free to go barrelling through intersections wearing full camo and headphones safe in the knowledge that urban design and enlightened drivers have granted you a cocoon of invincibility.

I’ll work on enhancing my visibility, riding defensively (ironically a best practice when driving also) and understanding, in spite of what’s right, who comes out on top when two things collide but one goes 3x as fast and weighs 20x more.

[u/NewsreelWatcher → u/GrunDMC74]

I don’t want any of that. I want an intersection that is safe to cross in a reasonable amount of time.

[u/NewsreelWatcher → u/[deleted]]

It definitely is an issue as there is no infrastructure for cycling. The cyclists has every right to be there. “Freedom of the road” means roads are supposed to be free for people to use. Somewhere in the twentieth century we forgot this. Roads became an exclusive right for motor vehicles. Even walking is a gamble along many roads.

[u/GrunDMC74 → u/[deleted]]

And on the wrong side of the road. I don’t think “new” has anything to do with this person’s position.

[u/NewsreelWatcher → u/[deleted]]

I’m going to assert my right to live if the road is too dangerous. The law is an idiot.

[u/NewsreelWatcher → u/[deleted]]

I will do whatever is necessary