The cycling community in Kamloops is calling for the re-examination of cyclist safety in the city in the wake of the death of a local doctor involved in a horrific crash in May.

Kamloops Cycling Coalition co-founder Cheryl Fraser says the May 11th crash on Highland Road in Juniper, which took the life of Doctor Andrew van der Westhuizen from his injuries last week, took place on a multi-use path, separate from the roadway.

“While you have a good enough sight line to see as a pedestrian or another cyclist traveling up the hill is coming at you and you can slow down to a safe speed, say 20 km an hour, you’re not expecting to see a truck, make a right hand turn over the pass.”

RCMP have determined van der Westhuizen was travelling above the speed limit on the multi-use path coming down Highland at the time of the crash, determining the driver of the vehicle was not at fault.

Fraser says it raises a number of questions about cycling safety in the city.

“Who’s allowing the truck to cross this? Where were the flaggers? Did this conversation happen? What about signage? I just think its an excellent opportunity to have these larger discussions.”

She suggests van der Westhuizen’s death underscores some of the dangers cyclists face in Kamloops, particularly on Highland Road in Juniper where the fatal crash took place.

“It is a multi use path,” she noted.  “Is a shared multi use path really the safest piece of infrastructure to put in an area that is located on a hill that’s this length and this grade?”

The site of the fatal crash on Highland Road is very close to the Kamloops Bike Ranch, which Fraser notes is popular for cyclists.