WEATHER THERE: clear, 3C, 11 km/hr tail/crosswinds
WEATHER BACK: sunny, 11C, 5 km/hr headwinds
It is a sad day in Cyclingville, my friends. I recently read an article in the newspaper describing how the driver of a pick-up truck that smashed into a group of six cyclists on the side of a highway in Quebec in May - killing three people - will not be facing any charges. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, though the driver was apparently a volunteer firefighter on his way home after a night shift so perhaps exhaustion played a part.
It's difficult to understand how a driver didn't see a pack of six cyclists travelling on the side of a highway in broad daylight (the accident happened at 10:00 am in May). What is most shocking is that absolutely no charges are being laid - not even careless driving - after three people have died. It angers and saddens me that there will be absolutely no consequences for whatever mistake led to this tragedy. I also feel angry and sad about what message this sends to cyclists: ride at your own risk, and if you get hit and killed it's your own damn fault for being on a bike in the first place. I know that highways were built for cars, but multiple modes of transportation do exist, so peaceful coexistence is necessary. As it is, the vehicle is the unchecked bully of the road and the cyclists are their innocent victims - often with fatal consequences. Yet time and again, the bully just keeps getting a slap on the wrist - if anything at all. What a sad, awful day for cyclists everywhere.
A newspaper article describing the original crash can be read here.
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