No right turn on red lights proposed for all Hamilton intersections after cyclist death

After the tragic death of a cyclist, the city will look at a proposal to stop right turns at all red lights in Hamilton.

The male cyclist died after he was hit by a commercial cement truck at York Boulevard and James Street North around 4 p.m. on Thursday (Sept. 28) last week.

The cyclist was travelling eastbound on York Boulevard approaching James Street North when he was hit by the truck, which was turning right onto James Street from York, Hamilton Police said.

Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch said on X (formerly Twitter) that he is putting forward a motion to “review the intersection at James Street North and York Boulevard” and “report back on implementing no right turns on red lights citywide.”

The review would also consider “leading pedestrian intervals at signalized intersections.”

The interval gives pedestrians the opportunity to enter the crosswalk at an intersection three to seven seconds before vehicles are given a green light. This safety measure is already in place in many cities across North America including Toronto.

If passed, the motion also asks the Transportation Division to investigate all fatal collisions and facilitate an in-service road safety review at intersection York Boulevard/Wilson Street and James Street North to identify possible safety enhancements.

The motion will come to the Public Works Committee meeting at 1:30 p.m. today (Oct. 2).

Kroetsch’s motion points to the fatal crash and the fact that the City of Hamilton Vision Zero Action Plan 2019-2015 identifies that no loss of life is acceptable.

And it comes on the heals of the 2022 Annual Collision Report, which found that 65.5 per cent of cyclist collisions and 68.4 per cent of pedestrian collisions occurred at intersections.

It also found that 77.8 per cent of all cyclists involved in a collision and 89.2 per cent of all pedestrian collisions sustained injuries.

For more information, see the Public Works Committee agenda here.

At this afternoon's Public Works Committee meeting I'll be putting forward a motion, seconded by @ward1wilson, for an immediate review of the intersection at James Street North and York Boulevard and a report back on implementing no right turns on red lights citywide. #HamOnt pic.twitter.com/Ou1PSlQF4T

— Ward 2 Hamilton (@Ward2Hamilton) October 2, 2023