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The Cyclery-4iiii promotes safer-passing law during BC Superweek

Ellen Watters team wants to bring law to prevent future tragedies to B.C.

safer passing law

safer-passing law
During BC Superweek, which is currently taking place in the Metro Vancouver area and concludes after 10 events on July 16, The Cyclery-4iiii is teaming up with local B.C. advocacy organizations to call for a safer-passing law in the province. Ellen Watters was a member of the Ottawa-based development program and passed away in December 2016 after being struck by a vehicle while riding near her hometown of Sussex, N.B. during the holidays. Her death prompted the province of New Brunswick to adopt what came to be called Ellen’s law which mandates that vehicles must yield one-metre to cyclists they are overtaking.

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The Cyclery-4iiii are partnering with B.C. advocacy groups including the BC Road Safety Law Reform Group for a safer-passing law which would require vehicles to yield 1.5 m when overtaking vulnerable road users, pedestrians and cyclists in the province. Watters performance at BC Superweek in 2016, the lack of adequate passing laws in B.C. and the convergence of many of the top North American racing teams to the province roads inspired the campaign to raise support for the law.

“Losing Ellen was a horrible reminder that far too often we are not safe,” team The Cyclery-4iiii mentor and two-time Olympian Tara Whitten said on the matter. “It was a reminder of all those times when I thought I was visible to motorists only to feel the blast of a vehicle passing way too close, as a harsh reminder of my vulnerability.”

safer-passing law

The law’s intent is to better protect vulnerable road users such as cyclists, pedestrians, people using a wheelchair and people on horse back by mandating that drivers yield 1.5 m of space to them. It goes on to recommend that when there is more than one lane available for traffic in the same direction, motor vehicles would have to pass in the lane next to the one with the vulnerable road user is traveling in.

“Safer roads for cyclists mean safer roads for everyone. It should not take the death of someone to make safer roads a reality,” said The Cyclery-4iiii’s Emily Flynn on why such legislation is important to ensure safer and more comfortable use of roads. “Ellen was family to us on The Cyclery-4iiii and no one should have to experience losing someone because of unsafe roads and inadequate laws.”

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In 27 jurisdictions in North American including Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia safer-passing laws have been specified. The BC Road Safety Law Reform Group wants those who support legislation mandating safer passing distances to share their experiences by tagging @bccycle and using the hashtag #PassSafeBC on Twitter.