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Candlelight Vigil for Cyclist Killed on Pape

Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists (ARC) will hold a candlelight vigil at the intersection where a 66-year-old cyclist was killed by a van last week. A memorial procession of cyclists will leave from the Standby Cafe at Yonge and Temperance St. at 5:30 p.m. The procession will ride through city streets, arriving at the intersection of Pape and Harcourt at 6:00 PM. A silence will be observed by participants as a gesture of respect and solidarity.

The cyclist was hit by a motor vehicle as he crossed Pape Avenue at Harcourt Street. The intersection is well lit and contains a signalled pedestrian crossover. Police state that the van was travelling at "a normal rate of speed." ARC’s position is that any rate of speed that can kill (especially in a 40km zone) is still too high.

Members of the deceased cyclist's family point out that he had taken steps to make himself visible. He was wearing a flashing safety light and also wore light coloured pants that evening. He also had a high degree of experience in both long distance and city riding.

This is the sixth cycling fatality in 1998 and it is also the first time on record a cyclist has been killed so late in the year.¹ The number of winter cyclists has increased every year in the city of Toronto. “Every year more cyclists find out that it is practical to ride a bicycle all year round, not just in the summer,” says ARC spokesperson, Derek Chadbourne. As travelling conditions become increasingly severe through winter, it becomes even more important for drivers to be aware that Toronto's roads are used by everyone, not just motor vehicles. Drivers need to be alert to the fact that one little mistake on their part can cost a cyclist's life.

We are holding this candlelight vigil because cyclists are a community. What happened to this cyclist could have happened to any one of us.

¹ In his report on cycling safety released in Sep 98, regional coroner Dr. Lucas examined all cycling deaths in Toronto over a 11-year period, none of which occurred in December or January.

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