Winnipeggers block off street where cyclist was killed as 19-year-old charged in hit and run - Action News
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Manitoba

Winnipeggers block off street where cyclist was killed as 19-year-old charged in hit and run

More than a hundred Winnipeggers blocked off the street where a cyclist was killed a day before, demandingsafer conditions for all vulnerable road users.

Speeding BMW struck and killed a 61-year-old cyclist Thursday morning, police say

A man holding a sign that says, 'Annoyed? Advocate for safer roads.'
More than a hundred people showed up to a sit-in Friday afternoon to demand safer road conditions the day after a 61-year-old cyclist was fatally struck by a vehicle. (Rosanna Hempel/CBC)

More than a hundred Winnipeggers blocked off the street where a cyclist was killed a day before, demandingsafer conditions for all vulnerable road users.

Beckham Keneth Severight, 19,has been arrestedin connection with the death of a 61-year-old cyclist in a Thursday hit and run inWinnipeg, Winnipeg police said Friday.

Police say Severightwas behind the wheel of a speeding BMW when it struck and killed the cyclist on Wellington Crescent.

Officers were called to Wellington at Cockburn Street N. around 7 a.m. that day. The cyclist was rushed to hospital in critical condition and later died.

On Friday afternoon, cyclists in the city rallied on the site of the crash for a sit-in, blocking off Wellington Crescent.

People standing on a street, many besides bikes. Some are holding signs.
The protesters blocked off Wellington Crescent Friday afternoon. (Rosanna Hempel/CBC)

PattyWiens, an advocate with the title bicycle mayor of Winnipeg, said the area is a popular route for cyclists because it connects one end of the citywith the rest of its bike network but there have been too many close calls there.

"We think, 'That could have been me,' 'I've been on that stretch so many times,' or 'I had a close pass right at that stretch and I'll never use it again because I'm terrified,'" Wiens said."Most of all [we think], 'How many is too many?'"

Wiens said drivers often go too fast there. She said more protected bike lanes would be ideal, but the city still has the option of lowering speed limits on side streets if it doesn't have the funds to improve infrastructure.

"Feels like the priority is always for anything to do with cars: widen the roads, fix the potholes. But then the cyclists always kind of fall below," she said.

Officers put colourful markers around a damaged bicycle on a grassy boulevard.
Officers place evidence markers around a damaged bicycle on the boulevard of Wellington Crescent on Thursday morning. (Gary Solilak/CBC)

She added that cyclists can "take the side streets, be visible, be predictable, signal," and yet situations like this still happen.

Nathan Wild said thateven though he's an experienced cyclist, he's scared to ride his bike in the area.

'There needs to be consequences'

The North End resident said his three children have each been hit by cars while commuting on their bikes.

He said that while some drivers may see bike lanes as some kind of nuisance, their convenience shouldn't outweighsafety.

"My daughter was quite seriously hurt. She still has a problem with her shoulder," Wild said.

"Somebodydied here. Somebody's son, brother, father, uncle, friend, they're no longer here, because of what?"

Two people standing besides some bikes.
Nathan Wild, right, with his son, Ethan. Wild said each of his children have been hit by cars while commuting on their bikes. (Rosanna Hempel/CBC)

Ethan, Wild's eldest, said he was hit by two vehicles within a span of 18 months.

"The one thing that gets to me isjust the fact that the second I get off my bike and get into a car, I suddenly am above the law," the 23-year-oldsaid. "If you're using your car negligently, there needs to be consequences."

Severightis charged with dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop at the scene, police said.

With files from Rosanna Hempel