The intersection of Berri and Ontario streets in Montreal must be reconfigured because of the danger it poses for those traveling by bicycle, concludes a coroner’s report published following a fatal collision between two cyclists, which occurred on ‘last year.
Posted at 8:00 a.m.
Coroner Marilynn Morin, who wrote the report, also recommends that the City of Montreal require its police officers to systematically initiate an investigation after a serious accident, even if it does not involve a motor vehicle.
The dangerousness of this intersection is well known: the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) recorded 19 accidents with injuries at this intersection between 2016 and 2021, reports coroner Morin. Although changes have been made over time, “the configuration of the intersection remains problematic and dangerous,” she adds.
On June 7, 2021, Robert LeBlanc lost his life there. The 62-year-old man was traveling in a BIXI on the north side of Ontario Street, heading east, against the flow of cars. As he was turning on the northbound Berri Street bike path, he was hit by another cyclist coming down the hill on the southbound Berri bike path.
“Upon impact, Mr. LeBlanc was ejected from his bike and hit the ground violently,” said Coroner Morin’s report.
The cyclist will suffer from skull fractures and several intracranial hemorrhages. Despite surgery, Mr. LeBlanc never regained consciousness. His death was recorded on June 23, after his mechanical assistance had been withdrawn.
8000 cyclists
The Berri Street bike path is bidirectional: the two lanes are on one side of the street, the west side, notes Coroner Morin.
The place is the natural extension of the Réseau express vélo (REV) Saint-Denis, whose lanes are unidirectional. During the summer, up to 8,000 cyclists have passed through it in one day, underlines Magali Bebronne, spokesperson for Vélo Québec.
The organization is requesting separate one-way bicycle lanes on Berri Street. “We know that two-way runways increase the risk of collisions at intersections,” says Ms.me Bebronne. There is a lot of crossing movement, cyclists turning, there may be pedestrians and cars that cyclists have to be careful of. »
In the office of Mayor Valérie Plante, we note that an extensive plan is being developed to secure the movements of cyclists at this location.
“At present, the Société de transport de Montréal is carrying out repair work on the membrane of the Berri-UQAM station; we must align ourselves with the work of our partner. That said, we can assure you that once this work is completed, we will intervene to secure the movements of all users on this important axis, “said press officer Marykim Gaudreault, in a written response, adding that “all scenarios are considered, including unidirectional”.
Systematic surveys
Coroner Morin points out that there was no formal SPVM investigation into the collision involving Robert LeBlanc because it did not involve a motor vehicle.
“However, for several years, alternative means of transport have diversified and become popular,” she points out.
The SPVM has established a new policy which provides that collisions involving a bicycle, scooter or other rolling objects, “with death or imminent risk of death”, must be reported to the Collision Investigations Module, which will determine whether it should conduct an investigation.
But this new policy does not go far enough, according to the coroner, who calls for systematic investigations in each case where there is “death, risk of death or serious injury”.
As the deceased cyclist was not wearing a helmet, Coroner Morin also recommends that the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec continue and intensify its efforts to raise awareness of the importance of wearing a helmet when traveling by bicycle.