About 600 people took part in a bike ride in Toronto on Wednesday in honour of a cyclist struck and killed by a dump truck driver last week.
The 24-year-old woman was struck on Bloor Street W. near Avenue Road early on July 25.
Toronto police have said the cyclist was westbound on Bloor, then exited the bike lane. She merged into a westbound vehicle lane and was struck by a dump truck driven by a 39-year-old man. Police said she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The woman’s death marks the fifth cyclist fatality in Toronto this year. Her name has not been released.
No charges have been laid in the death, but police said on Wednesday the investigation is “active and ongoing.”
Coun. Dianne Saxe, who represents Ward 11 (University-Rosedale), has said the bike lane was blocked by a large construction bin. She said the bin was placed illegally in front of 150 Bloor Street W., before the cyclist was killed.
In a statement on Wednesday, the city said there was no “street occupation permit” issued for the location.
“Temporary occupation of any portion of the public right of way during a demolition, renovation and/or construction permit requires a street occupation permit,” the city said.
The city added that enforcing those permits falls under its jurisdiction and that enforcement officers regularly patrol for such issues and hand out violation notices where warranted.
City staff also meet with builder and contractor agencies to educate them on topics related to building on the right of way, it said.
Saxe said a general contractor is working at the address and that she wants to see the contractor and the customer charged with criminal negligence causing death.
The death is a “terrible, completely avoidable tragedy,” she said.