Cyclist suffers impact from vehicle collision at Berri and Ontario street intersection
Cyclist Struck by SUV at Notoriously Dangerous Montreal Intersection
In an incident that underscores the ongoing road safety concerns for cyclists in Montreal, a 24-year-old cyclist was struck by a sport utility vehicle on Monday around 6:30 PM at the intersection of Berri and Ontario Streets.
Witnesses informed Le Devoir that the cyclist was heading downhill on the bike lane of Berri Street when the accident occurred, at the bottom of the hill. A driver of a Dodge Durango, who turned right at the intersection - a maneuver prohibited at this junction - hit the victim, leaving an apparent mark on the car's right side.
Authorities from the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) responded promptly to the scene, followed by firefighters and paramedics. The cyclist was immobilized on the ground for several minutes before being transported away on a stretcher, conscious but reportedly suffering from non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the vehicle, a 50-year-old male, and the passenger remained unscathed. The driver was issued a $186 ticket for making a right turn where it is forbidden. Traffic resumed at the site later in the evening, confirmed the SPVM around 8 PM.
Montreal has been working under the Vision Zero initiative to minimize fatalities and severe injuries from road collisions, with a goal of achieving this zero target by 2040. However, a previous study by Polytechnique Montreal concluded that many intersections in the city, particularly those designed primarily for cars, pose a danger to pedestrians, thereby implying potential risks for cyclists as well.
The Berri/Ontario intersection was ranked the most dangerous for cyclists in a survey by McGill University's Transportation Research group (TRAM) last June. Despite the city's ongoing efforts to improve road safety, initiatives like infrastructure changes, reduced speed limits, and the introduction of intelligent traffic systems may be necessary to reduce risks for vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians, at intersections like this one.
The incident involving a cyclist struck by a SUV at the Berri and Ontario Streets intersection, a notorious danger spot for cyclists in Montreal, raises concerns about road safety and car-accidents in general-news. This intersection, previously acknowledged as the most dangerous for cyclists in a McGill University survey, underscores the need for enhanced safety measures, such as infrastructure changes, reduced speed limits, and the implementation of intelligent traffic systems, to prevent future accidents and protect vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians.
