Father of dead cyclist Mathilde Blais decries government inaction

Two years after 33-year-oldMathilde Blaiswas hit by a truck while cycling through a St-Denis Street underpass her father is speaking out against the government's inaction.

"If you have the power to do something, do it," Jean Blais told Radio-Canada. "Do something."

The coroner's report following Blais' death recommended a minimum distance between cyclists and vehicles on Quebec roads.The Quebec government hasn't added this tothe Highway Safety Code.

• Cyclist Mathilde Blais' death was avoidable, says coroner

"I don't judge the truck driver," Blais said. "Mathilde was in front of the truck."

The truck driver saw the cyclist and moved away from her but part of the trailer hit her as he completed the maneuver and she was crushed.

Some cyclist groups have called for one metre minimum distance, others for a metre and a half.

• Quebec Highway Safety Code bike-friendly changes delayed, cycling groups complain

Following Blais's death the former transport minister, Robert Poti, put together a working group to modernize the Highway Safety Code, but it never went further than that.

The code "is not really designed for cyclists," Montreal Bike Coalition spokesman Daniel Lambert said.

• City of Montreal unveils bike safety plan for 57 underpasses

Montreal recently announced its plan to make Montreal streets safer for cyclists by 2017. Recommendations include making lanes narrower to provide room for a bike path and allowing cyclists to use sidewalks in underpasses.