A cyclist was taken to hospital with a non-life-threatening condition last week as Victoria Police investigated a crash involving one of the vehicles and an officer on duty.
A Victoria Police Service officer parked their service van while answering a call in the 900 block of Esquimalt Road on Thursday morning. The officer opened the driver’s side door to let a cyclist pass before the cyclist slammed into the door.
The officer began providing medical assistance to the cyclist and called on paramedics and other officials to attend before the injured cyclist was taken to hospital.
The VicPD said traffic officers documented the scene and they were investigating the crash under the supervision of the department’s Professional Standards Unit. The VicPD also said the incident met the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner’s (OPCC) criteria for a reportable injury.
Transportation officials are asking anyone with video of the incident or information about the crash to call the VicPD Reporting Desk at 250-995-7654, ext. 1.
The incident sparked calls for protests outside the police station over the weekend, with demonstrators saying they planned to issue tickets to officers in charge of the access control incident.
Door opening is when a driver or passenger unsafely opens a door into the path of oncoming traffic, resulting in a collision or steering. In B.C., opening a car door in an unsafe condition can result in a fine of $368.
The group of residents who raised road safety concerns after fatal and other serious crashes in Saanich involving vulnerable cyclists and pedestrians say painted bike lanes are often not as good as none due to the risk of opening doors. Private driveway for security. They also called for the Motor Vehicles Act to be “part of the solution, not part of the problem of active road users in our shared mobility spaces.”
The province says drivers and passengers should use the other hand across their body to open the door. This forces people to turn around and look in the mirror, look sideways, and turn their heads to see if there is oncoming traffic.
“There are some simple behavioral changes that can reduce the risk of getting in the door,” the province said.
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Bicycle Vic Police Department