Coquitlam mayor nearly doored in frightening cycling video
Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart’s bike ride nearly turned deadly this week when a driver opened his door without looking.
Stewart captured the whole thing on video and spoke out about the issue of dooring, which can lead to serious injury and death for cyclists.
“I almost lost my head this morning,” Stewart shared on Facebook Thursday.
He was biking past at transport truck stopped on the side of the road when the driver opened his door without looking and tried to step out as Stewart was passing.
“Woah! Jesus,” Stewart yells as he swerves to avoid the door.
The driver apparently apologized, saying he didn’t see Stewart, although the mayor was wearing high-visibility cycling gear.
“One of the most-pervasive and serious risks facing cyclists ā dooring ā is strictly prohibited under the MVA, S.203. And itās not very polite either,” Stewart said.
BC increased penalties for dooring (anyone opening the door of a parked car when it is not safe) to $368 in September 2020.
The provincial government advises drivers to reach across their body to open the door with their opposite hand. This makes it more likely they’ll swivel their head and see a cyclist approaching.
Gordon Food Service says it’s investigating the incident and has reached out to Mayor Stewart to apologize.
āGordon Food Service takes the safety of everyone on the roadways very seriously; whether on foot, on a bike, or in a vehicle,” a spokesperson said. “Every one of our drivers is required to obtain a commercial driver certification and complete extensive training, including at least 140 hours on the road with a licensed professional trainer.”
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