Whitehorse Daily Star

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Photo by Vince Fedoroff

WAITING AND WONDERING – Tuesday afternoon’s collision at Fox Lake, north of Whitehorse, caused a lengthy traffic jam.

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Photo by Vince Fedoroff

COLLISION INVESTIGATED – Emergency personnel work at the scene of the collision that injured a cyclist Tuesday afternoon on the North Klondike Highway north of Whitehorse.

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Photo by Vince Fedoroff

Collision injures cyclist

A cyclist was hospitalized after a collision between a vehicle and bicycle early Tuesday afternoon near the north end of Fox Lake.

By Whitehorse Star on August 15, 2018

A cyclist was hospitalized after a collision between a vehicle and bicycle early Tuesday afternoon near the north end of Fox Lake.

Both the vehicle and the cyclist were heading north on the North Klondike Highway when the collision occurred, Whitehorse RCMP said this morning.

The cyclist was struck by the mirror of the passing vehicle.

The rider, whose name was not released, was taken to Whitehorse General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

No charges are pending, police said.

Comments (21)

Up 3 Down 2

Let's just have more traffic hold ups then on Aug 22, 2018 at 12:43 am

I'll bet the traffic lined up due to the collision didn't like being held up....While it might be 'inconvenient' for cyclists and motorists to be on the road together, it is a reality and sanctioned under the Motor Vehicle Act. What I hate is being stuck behind big motorhomes or trucks/trailers....a bicycle on the shoulder is not a big deal. People who hate cyclists, speed by them, and drive dangerously.....reality check. You could be behind a bunch of tourists in 50 foot motorhomes, slowing you down. Be glad a bicyclist is one less motorized vehicle that you have to contend with on your commute. Slow down, drive safe and pass a cyclist when it is safe to do so. Motor Vehicle Act. Nobody wants to have their license compromised because they are not following the MVA, right?

Up 2 Down 1

Politico on Aug 21, 2018 at 7:18 pm

@Suffer on - In other words bikes should not drive on the road because they can't do the speed limit? Really? Bike riders pay equally to build the roads why can't they use them?
If a vehicle hits a bike the damage is far less for the car than for the bike. Vehicles have all the power, driver protection and much more powerful brakes. Drivers should use all their advantages to protect people on bike, including slowing down when necessary. Drivers always seem to be in too much of a hurry with a me, me attitude.
Someone who is injured by a bike has recourse to the police, the courts and small claims. Just like when two cars collide.

Up 8 Down 4

Drivers suffer on Aug 21, 2018 at 4:30 pm

@Politico - I'm pretty sure that 3 & 4 year olds don't ride on highways or roadways with the cars. You're missing the point.

If a driver hits a person on a bike because of the wrong doing of the biker, what recourse does the driver have to repair the damage to their property? Why should the driver be punished if they did nothing wrong? Sure, there is insurance, but it's the DRIVER'S insurance and they get penalized.

Of course bikes may not be able to do highway speeds but if a bike wants to be on the roadway, they should be doing the posted speed limit (highway or city). I understand that there are parts of the highways that the sides are not safe--in that instance, a biker should pull off and not a driver having to swerve. What if there is oncoming traffic and they can't swerve or stop!?

Up 9 Down 1

Yukon Watchdog on Aug 21, 2018 at 3:46 pm

@My Opinion - I said bigger vehicles have more rights PRACTICALLY SPEAKING. I.e. If you get dead from being hit by a large vehicle, your right to drive on the roadway suddenly becomes moot. Those rights might still be there for your family, but for dead you, they are gone, gone, gone.

And no, I am not saying it is ok. When they rebuild the highways, as is rumoured for the N. Klondike, in MY opinion, they should be building trails beside the highway like they did between Mt. Sima Road and Miles Canyon Road. Personally, I'd like to see them paved also so they are useful to everyone from little kids on bikes to teenagers on skateboards to elders with walkers. Motorized vehicles on said trails should be required to give non-motorized persons the right-of-way.

Up 5 Down 9

Dr Mantis Toboggan on Aug 21, 2018 at 2:48 pm

Bikes should be banned from all roads

Up 4 Down 9

Politico on Aug 21, 2018 at 12:23 am

@Vehicles should have more rights. So you are saying that 3 & 4 yr old's should be given driver licenses so they can ride bikes? And do you really think any bicycles can do 100k an hour. REALLY!

Up 5 Down 12

drum on Aug 19, 2018 at 3:28 pm

Toronto made beautiful bike lanes - completely separate from the road on which vehicles moved - wide enough and distinct enough to show bikes going both ways - bikes still continued to use the main road that the vehicles were on!!!!!

Up 6 Down 10

My Opinion on Aug 18, 2018 at 5:34 pm

@Vehicles
No they should not have a license, they are not a Motor Vehicle and are not required under the Motor Vehicle Act. There is no license to buy and it would change nothing even if they did. If you want to change the Motor Vehicle act then run on that in the next election, Good Luck.

Up 9 Down 9

My Opinion on Aug 18, 2018 at 5:29 pm

@Yukon Watchdog.
Are you serious? Did you just say that vehicles have more rights because they are bigger???? So I guess a tractor trailer can run your ass over in your Subaru and that WOULD BE OK, by your logic. After all he is bigger and practically speaking by your own words only makes sense.
Grow up people and have some respect and patience. You are not judge and executioner and if you kill someone you will pay as well.

Up 21 Down 8

Yukon Watchdog on Aug 17, 2018 at 4:50 pm

North of Whitehorse on the North Klondike Highway is like playing russian roulette with your life. There are many spots where there is NO shoulder. I'm even scared to drive my car is some places...you would never catch me on a bike around Fox Lake or between Pelly and Dawson, nope, not ever. And sorry, Mr. Berryman, while you may have rights on paper, the sheer size of every vehicle compared to you on your bike means they have more rights than you, practically speaking. And those riders that ride two abreast....that's just plain idiotic and a hazard for everyone on the road. That deserves a $1000 ticket!

Up 26 Down 27

My Opinion on Aug 17, 2018 at 3:45 pm

The tone of these comments are really disturbing. Do you think that a cyclist is just fair game then? You can't move over even a little bit? How self centred are some people, very entitled. You don't just try and threaten by driving as close as you can. What a bunch of self centred asses.

Up 25 Down 24

Vehicles should have more rights on Aug 17, 2018 at 1:01 pm

If bikes want a shared road on the regular roadway, they should have a license and registration like the rest of us. And they should be able to maintain the speed limit.

Up 32 Down 15

Just Sayin' on Aug 17, 2018 at 11:16 am

There are numerous factors which need to change.
First, YTG does not chip/pave the highways to the shoulders anymore, this way they save money. This savings, decreases the space bikers have to ride. Second, anyone traveling the highways should have some form of insurance including bikers. What if the biker was not traveling the shoulder? Third, any vehicle traveling the highway should be able to do highway speeds, if not, they should not be on the road as it becomes a nuisance. Finally, bikers need to do their diligence to watch for traffic (mirrors on their bikes). If they are proceeding on a poor section of the highway, which there are numerous, they need to let the traffic pass prior to riding on the highway. Also, they need to bike in single file and not side by side.

Up 33 Down 11

ProScience Greenie on Aug 17, 2018 at 11:02 am

While I'm always happy to see people cycling it is true that a good number of them, with a combination of stupidity and arrogance, are horrible cyclists causing far too much danger to themselves and others.

Up 22 Down 16

Simon on Aug 17, 2018 at 9:29 am

Rod - Wait, what? Cyclists should pull off the road when they see a vehicle?

If they did this, they wouldn't get anywhere. It'd be on, off, on, off, on...

Up 28 Down 14

Bandit on Aug 17, 2018 at 8:40 am

@ Yukon resident
I hope the cyclist is going to be Ok but I agree with Rod re: cyclist etiquette, but to get to your point about non motorized trails along the highways? Give me an effin break!!! I suppose all of the money for this will come from the licensing and fuel taxes collected from the cycling community?

Up 32 Down 6

Mike on Aug 16, 2018 at 8:21 pm

I've been brushed by a vehicle in this same section in the past. The details here are sparse, so I only can assume it happened because there was traffic in both directions, which means, even if you happen to cycle on the outer right of the pavement, there won't be enough space for everyone. For my own safety, I ride on the gravel whenever I notice oncoming traffic and from behind. But that actually means terrible cycling as the shoulder is often soft and littered with debris. It also has a funny reaction by motorists, who then do not slow down at all and just zoom by too close. So no, I think cyclist have equal rights to be on the pavement and motorists need to learn that they have a brake in their vehicle.
The suggestion of a paved shoulder for new construction zones is a good one. This highway stretch was wrecked for cyclists last time it was resurfaced and it was terribly rough with unstable shoulders for over a year. That's one reason bicyclists try to ride on the worn in passenger side tire path that shows smooth after a while.
Although not related to the incident, there is a problem out here with speeding, DUI driving and tired drivers. Last year, one litter cleanup between the Fox Lake campground and the north-end of the lake, an eight Kilometer stretch, resulted in over 300 beer cans and hard liquor bottles. That's unacceptable and needs to be followed up by RCMP check stops.

Up 28 Down 24

John Berryman on Aug 16, 2018 at 7:22 pm

Drivers sometimes have this sense of entitlement that they own the road. They don't! Bicycles have a right to be on the road as much as motorized vehicles. In the motor vehicle act, vehicles must stay at least 1 meter away from the cyclists. I've cycled on the North Klondike and had vehicles come very close to me when there is no one coming the other direction at high speed. At best there is a 1-2 foot shoulder. In no way should cyclists have to get off the road when a vehicle approaches. Vehicles should give a wide space and if a vehicle is coming the other direction, slow down. Share the road!!!

Up 25 Down 25

yukoner on Aug 16, 2018 at 3:27 pm

Rod, if you're going to comment on this sort of thing at least read the motor vehicle act and regulations.
Pull off the road when you see a vehicle? The vehicle that hit the cyclist was coming from behind.
Cyclists must ride as far to the right as practicable. That's out of the act. Practicable is open to interpretation by the individual. If there is a bunch of debris, gravel etc, well, "as far to the right" is left to ones discretion.
Honestly, I'm amazed there are no charges pending. There is NO excuse for hitting a cyclist in these sorts of conditions, unless carelessness or negligence is an excuse, and maybe it is these days.
Cyclists are the worse? Really? Like worse than motorists texting or on the cell while driving? Like worse than that? Worse than someone in a F350 not paying attention? C'mon, the motorist should own this one 100%.

Up 36 Down 19

Rod on Aug 16, 2018 at 7:34 am

Sorry this happened and hope the biker is on.. but bikers are the worst. They don’t move over at all. I mean good god, wear reflective gear and pull off the road when you see a vehicle!

Up 23 Down 31

Yukon resident on Aug 15, 2018 at 11:18 pm

Flat out ignorant to pass a cyclist so close that your mirror hits them. Even if the cyclist is 'in the lane' move over and make some room. The shoulders aren't good everywhere.

Which brings up the next issue. We need a separate trail for non motorized use alongside our highways. Every time work is done a section should be completed. I don't even barely ride a bicycle but admire those that do. And I might ride more if I weren't sharing a highway with trucks and motorhomes and cars going 100 kmh +

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