Cyclist seriously injured in collision
A cyclist was seriously injured in a collision with a van Monday afternoon
A cyclist was seriously injured in a collision with a van Monday afternoon in Takhini North, according to Whitehorse RCMP.
The 20-year-old, whose name was not released and whose gender is unknown, was later medevaced to Vancouver.
The collision happened at about 4:30 p.m., on Normandy Road between Range Road and Carpiquet Road.
Const. Dean Hoogland said this morning the cyclist came off a bike path and was attempting to cross the road when he or she was struck.
The cyclist was transported to Whitehorse General Hospital with serious injuries.
“The extent of (the) injuries is unknown,” Hoogland said.
The RCMP’s collision analyst was on scene for hours afterward.
Police are still investigating.
No charges have been laid.
Despite RCMP telling media first the cyclist was male, and later female, as of this afternoon, Hoogland said the person's gender is in fact unknown.
Comments (13)
Up 20 Down 1
Frank Silva on Jul 26, 2015 at 8:31 am
Can we all just admit that this City has no shortage of bad drivers AND bad cyclists, not to mention a lot of poorly designed roadways, intersections, crosswalks and pathways just asking for collisions of this type? Everybody in this town needs to slow down, obey the traffic laws and mind the other guy. Common sense says if you can't see... you don't go.
My thoughts go out to this poor cyclist and the driver involved - I hope both make a full recovery.
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Salar on Jul 25, 2015 at 10:55 am
Marten marten...the biker didn't look....josey has nothing to do but rant about everything...give it a rest with vehicle drivers needing a change in attitude....see, the car or truck driver has to live with hitting you bikers....if you are worried about swerving into traffic while biking then stick to the millennium trail, because you're gonna lose big time if you swerve in front of a vehicle, for any reason.
And please, if folks like biking in Europe....move there, this is Canada, the Yukon actually, in case anyone is waking up here for the first time.
Up 14 Down 3
Groucho d'North on Jul 25, 2015 at 10:05 am
Cyclists must take greater responsibility for their own safety. Where I live on the periphery of Whitehorse, groups of cyclists gather together for events. To be clear, these are adults for the most part and seem to believe they are invincible against ore trucks and other vehicles traveling the highway at speed.
These cyclists travel 2, 3 even 4 abreast at times laughing and giggling as they violate the law that states single file travel. I have witnessed a few near misses that could have been very tragic for the truck driver who would have to explain how the mistakes of a few self-absorbed bike riders would end his career as a driver and perhaps provide images that would be the fuel for his PTSD attacks for decades.
I also believe cyclists must have insurance for when those minor little collisions damage a vehicle which will cost a few thousand dollars to make right. There's one set of rules that govern the use of our roadways. all users should be obliged to follow them, or risk summary conviction fines - that is if the RCMP ever decide to enforce any of these. Share the road is easy to say, share the responsibility is what is needed and bikers need to live up to their end of the deal.
Up 19 Down 2
Mike on Jul 24, 2015 at 1:14 pm
@ no blame for a change
You do realize the police said the cyclist was at fault here don't you? He blew across the road without looking.
Up 7 Down 1
Politico sorry for your mis-understanding of the issue on Jul 24, 2015 at 1:03 pm
No one is blaming anyone, it is the situation at hand and what can we do to prevent it from occurring again!
You have the Mayor promoting biking which is not a bad idea and more people are biking.
But the problem is the Mayor like composting does not know what is needed to make bike riding much more safer in the City.
I think the Mayor should take a trip Europe and find out the facts.
All we read about is someone getting hurt and we all feel for this person to have a full recovery.
Up 19 Down 0
We need bike laws in the City again for peoples safety on Jul 24, 2015 at 12:51 pm
We need bike laws in the City for peoples safety. This is the very situation when people get harmed just like all the accidents on the Alaska highway.
More people, more need for safety.
I too have an experience with a biker almost running me down coming out of a store and laughed about it as he left.
Up 14 Down 40
Marten on Jul 23, 2015 at 2:23 pm
Wow Josey, with that attitude you are going to seriously hurt or kill a cyclist one day. Your ignorance about driving and bike safety is astonishing.
Why give cyclists a wide berth? It gives the cyclist room in case they need to swerve due to an obstacle in the road. Potholes are common around here, ground squirrels can run out in front of them, they could have sudden bike trouble and lose control, etc.
Why you are so opposed and angry at having to share the road is baffling.
If there is an oncoming vehicle, well, it's Driving 101 to know not go over the centre lane. And there is always the option of SLOWING DOWN until it's safe to pass.
The way you describe your pathetic, aggressive tactic of staying behind and honking until the cyclist "gets out of your way" really shows your limited driving skills and knowledge about safe driving. I seriously hope you don't cause an accident one day.
Perhaps you should go take a driving lesson or two to learn how to cope and share the road?
Up 21 Down 15
Josey Wales on Jul 23, 2015 at 8:20 am
I say it gets waaaay worse these "collisions" around town.
Why? IMHO we are now a village of idiots...officially.
Stop signs seem more decorative, lines on the roads especially those solid ones mean nothing. Pedestrians pop out everywhere like everybody has super car brakes expecting hyper alertness...often void from drivers.
Bikes and their riders? There is not enough font to illustrate how that bunch (many not all) THEY themselves are the writer of the story.
Despite the very obvious CLASH that vehicles and bikes illustrate daily, the nobles in halls everywhere are re-engineering cities to actually discourage vehicle use and social engineer the crusade.
Before I rant on....more, why do vehicles yield ten feet to bikes to avoid "congestion" they cross a center line opposing traffic facing many thousands of pounds of inertia?
Of course the local scene here...as per...is ENFORCEMENT free from both the yellow stripes and the red...enabled big by the courts.
Main, 2nd and 4th alone IF enforced current law....I'm certain could generate enough revenue property taxes might be not required.
I pay to ride those roads, time bikes do too...they too should have what I have.
A plate, registration, yup insurance....a chat roadside/fine when they play stupid (often) with a enforcement type.
I do not cross center lines for bikes riding abreast...I slow...they get the horn hard & long...till they move outta my way.
Up 21 Down 48
Politico on Jul 22, 2015 at 10:59 pm
It's amazing, a cyclist gets hurt and the anti-cycle crowd come crawling out of the woodwork. All the evils of cyclist are pounded on by the captains of the metal behemoths. You guys are not innocent by any means.
If cyclist must obey the law why don't auto drivers learn the laws and obey them. Considering the vitriol that comes out of these letters over drivers that don't obey the rules. Everyday I see motorists running red lights, failing to stop at stop signs, driving in bike lanes, stopping in crosswalks, failing to use turn signals and speeding like mad through school zones. There are a hell of a lot more law breakers driving cars than there are driving bikes.
Car drivers need to clean up their act before they start throwing stones.
My thoughts are with the victim and I hope they have a successful and speedy recovery.
Up 28 Down 6
no blame for a change on Jul 22, 2015 at 8:51 pm
Perhaps, for a change, people could not lay blame...just once. And instead send good wishes that the cyclist who has a whole life ahead of them does not succumb to his/her injuries - regardless of his/her actions, and that the driver can work through what will likely be a very long period of post-trauma stress, regardless of his/her actions. THAT is showing compassion and care as Yukoners...instead of what we have become by being so quick to hide behind social media and point fingers as to who is at fault and who should have done what. Thoughts are with those involved....
Up 56 Down 8
Mark V on Jul 22, 2015 at 1:31 pm
Sorry that someone got really hurt. As a motorist, I see people riding their bikes and breaking the rules on a continuous basis. Not all bike riders do but a lot. As ATV riders have to register, insure there machines and purchase a plate to so they can be identified if breaking the rules, this is for offroad vehicles. This is an expense we have to pay and we drive on trails and back woods. Bicyclist should also be made to purchase a license plate for their bike so they also can be identified when breaking rules. If motorists have to pay to drive their cars on the road so should bike riders. They should also have to be road tested to be sure they understand the laws of the road at least this way they can't say " I didn't know". In most provinces you have to license your bike if you are going to drive on the road. When they purchase the plate the funds could go to helping upgrade bike lanes signage that is needed for them. They drive on the roads so they should help with the cost of what it takes to maintain our roads for motorist and bicyclist.
Up 32 Down 4
July Drivers on Jul 22, 2015 at 12:48 pm
I totally agree with the Takhini North residents, on-street parking needs to be curtailed. It's gotten ridiculous up there, there's barely room in some places for one vehicle to move along and sightlines are a real issue. It's a shame, because that used to be such a pleasant, pedestrian-oriented atmosphere. Where are all those vehicles coming from?
That's not the only area in the city where vision is blocked. Then there's the clover that obscures the view here and there. Maintenance and enforcement of sightlines is surprisingly undependable.
Up 50 Down 8
Pjt1959 on Jul 21, 2015 at 9:36 pm
Sorry that someone got hurt this bad but was bound to happen. Today saw a biker cut off 3 vehicles riding on the wrong side of road cutting across traffic to the sidewalk on other side of road and laughing at traffic as she did and her partner stayed riding against traffic neither wearing helmets. Bikers seem to think that 1 metre means anywhere and do not have to obey rules of the road. Then just after that at the mall a biker rides from the parking lot crossing on a crosswalk, not stopping and expecting traffic to stop and was riding the bike across. It's about time to clamp down on this and bikers should realize crosswalks are not for people riding bikes across but walk, and not to push the crosswalk sign and ride across.
If you ride a bike the road rules are the same for you as a motor vehicle. Let's not have a death as a result of thinking vehicles must stop for you disobeying the rules of the road and motor vehicles must try also not to disobey the rules of the road also. Share the road means that for both vehicles and bikes so please share bikers if a bike lane is 2 metres wide don't ride on the white line leave some room as on your left from the white line. That's my rant.