Following Vancouversa国际传媒檚 lead, Victoria will require its city and contractor trucks to be equipped with side guards in an attempt to bring greater protection for cyclists and pedestrians.

But amid calls for the requirements to come from upper levels of government, Transport Canada says itsa国际传媒檚 exploring other safety solutions.

Side guards block the space between front and back tires as theysa国际传媒檙e meant to prevent the rear wheels of larger vehicles from running over pedestrians or cyclists once a collision has occurred.

Victoriasa国际传媒檚 new requirement for its city-owned and contractor vehicles was pushed by Coun. Stephen Andrew in an approved motion last month. He cited a cyclist being hit near the Johnson Street bridge in July, and a recent crash in Vancouver that killed cyclist Agustin Beltran, 28. The two cities are also asking for the feds to make side guards mandatory on large, heavy and semi-trailer trucks in urban areas.

sa国际传媒淚 think itsa国际传媒檚 another place where municipalities are demonstrating leadership by moving along on things where senior governments are maybe a little slow to move on,sa国际传媒� said Corey Burger, Capital Bikesa国际传媒檚 policy and infrastructure chair.

He said Transport Canada had the chance to require side guards after a spate of fatal collisions a decade ago, but didnsa国际传媒檛. After initial collisions, itsa国际传媒檚 the wheels of vehicles running over cyclists or pedestrians that turn incidents fatal, he added.

Transport Canada told Black Press Media it has extensively researched side guards over the last decade and found limited benefit for vulnerable street users. The agency said itsa国际传媒檚 working with all levels of government and industry to strengthen safety and reduce the risks.

It is also looking at proposing regulations in the coming years requiring automatic emergency braking and advanced driver assistance systems.

Victoriasa国际传媒檚 physical infrastructure changes sa国际传媒� including those near the Johnson Street bridge sa国际传媒� have increased safety, Burger said, adding that the feds changing vehicle design requirements would be another important tool.

sa国际传媒淲e can reduce collisions as much as possible through driver education, through infrastructure, but (side guards) are the last ditch thing between somebody getting injured and somebody getting killed.sa国际传媒�

More cities following Victoria and Vancouversa国际传媒檚 direction could lead to many of the provincesa国际传媒檚 contractors installing side the guards, Burger said, as theysa国际传媒檒l want to keep the business of those communities.

He recognizes mandating side guards on trucks nationwide would be costly, but said saving lives is worth it.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 hopeful this is the last time we have to ask for this, but if it isnsa国际传媒檛 wesa国际传媒檒l just keep asking and wesa国际传媒檒l keep hoping that we donsa国际传媒檛 have to have another fatality before Transport Canada takes action.sa国际传媒�

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