Rosemont updates traffic lights at intersection where cyclist died

The borough of RosemontLa Petite-Patriehas reconfigured the traffic lightsat the corner of d'Iberville Street and Rosemont Boulevard nearly nine months after a cyclist was stuck and killed at that intersection.

Borough officials say by adding a delayed green light, the area should be safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

In August 2016, 24-year-oldJustineCharlandSt-Amourwas fatally struck by a truckat the intersection.

• RosemontcyclistJustineCharlandSt-Amour remembered by colleagues

Charland St-Amour was on her bicycle waiting at a red light next to a truck on Aug. 22. When the light turned green both moved forward at the same time and the right-turning truck didn't see her.

Montreal police said no one was at fault.

A white "ghost bike" wasinstalled at the intersection following the incident.

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Ghost bikes are bicycles that are painted white and placedat the scene of fatal or near-fatal collisions between cyclists and motorized vehicles.

'I hope this will avoid other deaths'

RosemontLaPetite-Patrie citycouncillorMarc-AndrGadourytold CBC Montreal that the changes weremade withCharland St-Amour in mind.

"We have pedestrian lights at every direction," he said."We've changed the left turn from the beginning of the cycle to the end of the cycle."

LiseRebout, who works at a daycarenear the intersection, said she feels the change is a step in the right direction, but more could be done.

"I hope this will avoid other deaths," she said.

Why not a bike path?

GabrielMorissette, a friend ofCharland St-Amour's, said he'd like to see a bike path installed along the street.

"Putting [a] delayed green light, this is just a way to delay the moment where a big truck could turn right onto a biker or even a pedestrian."

The problemhowever, saysRosemontLaPetite-Patriecity councillorrikaDuchesne,is that d'IbervilleStreet has many factories and is frequently used by truckers.

Duchesne said, if anything,Montreal may needto rethink how its roads are used.

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"We are starting in North America to think about these trucks," she said.

"They are big trucks, maybe they are too big for the city. Maybe we have to make changes about the size of the trucks that come in the city."