Angry cyclists shut down scene of fatal collision By: Erik Pindera Posted: 7:47 PM CDT Friday, Jun. 7, 2024 Last Modified: 9:10 PM CDT Friday, Jun. 7, 2024 Updates

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More than 100 cyclists, angered and saddened over a fatal hit-and-run of a bike rider a day earlier, shut down the intersection where the collision occurred Friday afternoon.

A 61-year-old man cycling eastbound on Wellington Crescent near Cockburn Street was hit by a driver police allege was speeding and driving erratically just after 7 a.m. Thursday.

The man, who was on his way to work, was taken to hospital in critical condition and later died.

Protesting cyclists blocked a stretch of Wellington Crescent and the adjacent street Friday from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

The demonstrators forced most drivers to find an alternate route, but allowed Winnipeg Transit buses and a fire truck through the crowd.

Most drivers obliged, though some jeered and swore at the protesters.

Some in the crowd held signs demanding action to protect cyclists and pedestrians with protected bike lanes and slower speeds.

Patty Wiens, who was bestowed the title Bicycle Mayor of Winnipeg by an international active-transportation advocacy group last month, spoke for the group.

“My community is moved and tired,” said Wiens. “When I saw that they were getting organized to protest the lack of safety for pedestrians and cyclists in this area, I knew that I had to be here as well, because we’re all in this together, and our community is really feeling hit.”

She said news of the hit-and-run spread quickly in the cycling community.

“The first thing that happens is we think of, ‘That could have been me; I’ve been on that stretch so many times,’ or, ‘I had a close (call) right at that stretch and I never used it again, because I’m terrified,’” she said.

“The first feeling, too, is what is that family thinking right now? What are they feeling? What (are) his co-workers — he didn’t arrive at work — but most of all, it’s how many is too many?”

She said many drivers go “very” fast on the stretch of Wellington Crescent, using it as a route out of downtown. She said cycling infrastructure needs to be improved.

“Narrowing the streets, putting in a bike lane, protected infrastructure… that would be amazing and ideal, but also slowing down the speeds on side streets is very important, because if we don’t have money for protected bike infrastructure, if we slow down our streets, then maybe people will get the message that they can’t go so fast and maybe we’ll feel a little bit safer,” Wiens said.

She said moves on improving cycling infrastructure in Winnipeg have been slow.

“It seems like the priority is always for anything to do with cars… the cyclists always kind of fall below,” she said. “It hasn’t been dealt with in so long — and our current administration is trying, our mayor rides a bike to work, our deputy mayor used to be with Winnipeg Trials… but we need buy in from everyone.”

She added police enforcement on speeding could also help, but design of streets is the more pressing concern.

Investigators determined the driver of a white BMW was speeding and driving erratically when the luxury sedan hit the cyclist, said Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen.

“It’s incredibly unfortunate,” he said.

Beckham Keneth Severight, 19, has been charged with dangerous driving causing death and leaving the scene of a collision.

“This person was operating the vehicle erratically, at high rates of speed… this is beyond preventable, this is an individual who clearly had no concern for public safety whatsoever,” said Michalyshen.

He said the vehicle did not belong to Severight, who had borrowed it. Police found the car parked near the owner’s home.

“They’ve been very helpful, co-operative,” Michalyshen said, referring to the owner.

Severight is in custody. He’s had no prior convictions in Manitoba, court records show.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca