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Letter: Gaudreau tragedy should spur critical discussion on cyclist safety

Letter: Gaudreau tragedy should spur critical discussion on cyclist safety

A cyclist rides through the Lower Lonsdale area of North Vancouver in a protected mobility lane. | Nick Laba / North Shore News Dear Editor:…

Sunday, Oct 13

News

A cyclist rides through the Lower Lonsdale area of North Vancouver in a protected mobility lane. | Nick Laba / North Shore News Dear Editor:

Re: Gaudreau Story A Reminder Of Impaired Driving’s Devastation, Sept. 4 column

I’m writing as a resident of Ambleside, a regular reader of the North Shore News, and a passionate hockey player. My love for the game brought me from France to Canada ten years ago, and like many in our community, the loss of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother feels personal to me. I’m also a cyclist, a commuter, a thinker, and an environmental advocate.

In your column, you emphasized the “impaired driver” responsible for the tragedy, which echoes much of the coverage on this matter. While impaired driving is certainly a factor, I believe this framing overlooks a deeper issue that demands attention.

As North Shore residents, we share the roads – cyclists and drivers alike – and these tragic incidents are unfortunately not rare. They will continue to happen, and likely at an increasing rate, unless we address the root causes. The issue isn’t solely about “drinking and driving.”

Having lived and cycled in various parts of the world, I’m struck by how dangerous the roads here in Vancouver feel. The oversized vehicles, aggressive driving styles, lack of respect for speed limits, and overconfidence of many poorly skilled drivers – coupled with the constant distraction of cellphones of now – create a perilous environment.

This is not just an individual problem, but a systemic […]

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