April 24, 2002

Mayor Mel Lastman
Toronto City Hall
2nd Floor 100 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2

Dear Mayor Lastman:

During the summer of 1996 2 rather high profile cycling fatalities occurred within the City of Toronto within the space of 10 days. As a result, a committee was struck under auspices of the Office of the Chief Coroner to review cycling fatalities over a ten year period within the city with a view to make recommendations directed towards enhancing cycling safety, not only for the City of Toronto but for the Province of Ontario as a whole.

A report was prepared and distributed in July 1998. It contained an overview of the review process, a summary of the committee's findings and 15 recommendations directed to various organizations, agencies and ministries of government. The text of the complete report is available at the City of Toronto website at www.city.toronto.ca/cycling under the heading of Reports.

Recommendations were directed to the following identified organizations or ministries:

• Ministry of Transportation Ontario
  Recommendations 1,2,7,8,9,12
• Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police
  Recommendations 1,2,3
• City of Toronto
  Recommendations 4,5,6,10,11,13,14
• Toronto Police Service
  Recommendations 1,2,3,10,11
• Ministry of the Solicitor General for Ontario
  Recommendation 1
• Transport Canada
  Recommendation 15
• Canada Safety Council
  Recommendation 8

It is now almost four years since the completion and publication of the report. A busy summer season of cycling is anticipated. It is our hope that the recommendations from the report have generated some action and measures to reduce the chances of significant numbers of fatalities on our roadways.

I am therefore writing at this time to seek feedback from your organization/ministry regarding the recommendations contained in the report that are relevant to you.

Your responses will serve as an impetus to relevant stakeholders in deciding what appropriate safety measures need to be considered for the anticipated busy cycling season. A response at your earliest convenience would be much appreciated.

Yours truly,

W. J. Lucas, M.D., C.C.F.P.
Regional Supervising Coroner
Central Region

WJL/vgm
c:Mr. Barry Gutteridge
Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services

Ms. Paula M. Dill
Commissioner, Urban Development Services