was placed as tribute to Danielle Naçu, who died when she collided with a car door on Queen Street and was thrown into the path of a following car.
OTTAWA — Two weeks to the day after Danielle Naçu was killed while she was cycling along Queen Street, a 41-year-old Ottawa woman faces a $110 fine for opening her car door improperly.
The Highway Traffic Act charge against Kathy Chow was laid on Tuesday, Ottawa police said. No other charges are expected.
Naçu’s father Tom Naçu, reached at home in Brampton on Tuesday, said, “The law is the law.”
“I don’t think she meant to do it on purpose. It was carelessness, and I guess she’ll pay for it with more than just a few dollars.
“I would say that there are higher authorities who will look after this. I’m not going to be involved in this now. It’s over and done with, and there’s not much more that we can do about it. Hopefully, somewhere along the way, more people will be conscious of it … both cyclists and motor vehicle drivers.”
On Oct. 11, Danielle Naçu was cycling west along Queen Street between Metcalfe and O’Connor streets. Just before 9 a.m., the driver-side door of a parked Volkswagen hatchback opened and struck her. The impact tossed her into the street, where she was run over by a passing Volkswagen Passat.
Despite the efforts of witnesses, bystanders and emergency personnel who immediately rushed to her aid, Naçu was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.
Reached in Toronto on Tuesday, Naçu’s 35-year-old brother Brent said the family has a lot of faith in Ottawa police, and that the charge “is part of a bigger answer.”
“If the police found that there was just cause for a highway traffic violation, that’s great,” he said. “Should it be more? I don’t know. … Overall, if cycling deaths can be prevented and cycling safety can be enhanced, we’re 100-per-cent supportive of that.”
Both men also said they’re heartened by the Chief Coroner of Ontario’s Monday announcement that cycling deaths in the province are under investigation and review.
More than 100 people turned out to Naçu’s Ottawa memorial service on Oct. 15, and hundreds more turned out to the Oct. 18 memorial bicycle ride along Queen Street held in her honour.
Brent Naçu said about 100 people, mainly close friends and family, turned out to last week’s memorial service in Mississauga, where Danielle was born and raised.
According to statistics released by Ottawa police days after Naçu’s death, 19 drivers had been charged with “dooring” prior to Tuesday’s charge against Chow. Twenty-five drivers were charged in 2010, 19 in 2009 and 21 in 2008.
Source: Ottawa
About the Author
BaikBiker - Contact the Editor at chloe@baikbike.com
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on't, knowing she has loved ones that will be devastated I lost it late last night. Didn't sleep.
Issues with reporting: the garbage conclusion CPD gave - driver not at fault, making "legal" right turn on green. Correction: illegal right-hook killing cyclist in the bike lane. From what other cyclists have said on Twitter, a bike lane that had paint so faded you can't see it. According to Fox 32, there are some gruesome details and the driver stopped after he heard her screaming. I've seen the age reported as both 33 and 37. Many members of the press really failing to report the crash with accuracy and full knowledge of the laws so further spreading misinformation about the crash. The usual calling it a "tragic accident" and mentioning a "truck hit a cyclist" rather than what really happened - a driver, at fault, hit a cyclist. Clearly, he overtook her on that street before the turn and did not take her into consideration when he turned. Clearly it was a right hook. Also, press like the Chicago Tribune only getting information from CPD (incorrect information), didn't do research, and didn't bother to follow up on the fact that the truck DID NOT have wheel guards. WHY?
https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20170725/wicker-park/city-trucks-mu...
Why is nothing done to enforce the laws we have, ensure CPD officers actually know the laws they are supposed to enforce, and why do we let the commercial truck driver off the hook so easily? I am one of many that has spent over 24 hours on pins and needles waiting to hear her name and learn her story. And then we mourn. And have a ghost bike. There is so much loss involved in losing a member of our community to something that could have been prevented many times over with so many preventative measures that aren't implemented, enforced, etc. And don't get me started with how easily one can obtain a commercial license to drive a massive truck.
At this point, the driver hasn't received so much as a ticket. The usual victim blaming has occurred. Bike Lane Uprising did an important and valuable thing by immediately having a human protected bike lane vigil and inviting the press. Christina contacted all of us to help get the word out yesterday. CL had messages on FB and Twitter.
Soon, when we know more, I'm going to adjust the title and add an update when we know her name. This becomes important for Ghost Bike Memorials, legal follow ups and makes it searchable for the future. I've needed to go back to find information and assume others will need the same information as well. …
bout Watkins:
She's the only candidate willing to point out that easily half of the city budget is completely wasted on ghost employees and people who have do-nothing jobs made up for them by patronage bosses.
Could she theoretically do something about it and not end up dead? Who knows.
Joe TV said:
I haven't heard much from the other candidates on the topic, and without taking sides, I would point out that Rahm was gladhanding at an unnamed Bucktown (Rapid Transit?) bike shop today:
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/politics&id=7928356
H3N3 said:
A politician promised something, he must be sincere . . .
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Added by h' Zerocats at 6:59pm on January 30, 2011
of a mile is beyond me - it just invites traffic to jockey for position when there is the inevitable merge at the next street, and of course cyclists aren't factored into this equation.
Closely related to this is the more endemic problem of motorists using the so-called "rush hour lanes" (pure fantasy, IMO) as extra lanes of traffic. Sorry drivers, and I am one as well, but a no parking designation doesn't equate to a lane for you to drive in unless said lane has been clearly demarcated.
Cameron Puetz said:
The worst is the one two punch on most east/west routes on the northwest side of the belly bulge built under the Kennedy followed almost immediately by the pinch point created by the Union Pacific viaduct. James Baum said:In my opinion these belly bulges are some of the the most dangerous areas to ride a bike in this city right behind the pinch-points like bridges and under/overpasses where there isn't enough room even for the existing traffic lanes and no extra space (protected or not) for us who chose to ride human-powered two wheeled transportation and don't want to end up as a ghost bike.
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D'ing.
Maybe put a big neon sign that says a person was killed by a careless motorist that would be better.
The pole it attatched to is rusty=eyesore.
Second there's an ad on the fence to the park sprayed with grafitti=double eysore.
My only comment in any way to his defense is if I had a relative/friend killed I wouldn't want to drive/ride by those everyday and be reminded, it would bum me out.
h333 said:
Puke:
http://www.suntimes.com/6532422-417/ghost-bikes-haunt-city-sidewalk...
Just sent to the "journalist."
Kara,The slant of this article is absolutely disgusting.You should be ashamed of yourself.Ed Hooks presented false and misleading information to make his case, and did not deserve the great effort you went to to be made to look level-headed and reasonable in the face of unreasonable opposition.You are absolutely trying to drive a wedge, even though you volunteered that you weren't.Shame on you.Howard
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to allow for memorials, etc.)
9-52-071 Abandoned bicycles. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon any bicycle on any public way within the city. A bicycle shall be deemed abandoned if it: (1) is in such a state of disrepair as to be incapable of being operated in its present condition, or (2) has not been moved or used in more than seven days and bears physical indicia of having been deserted. (b) Any bicycle deemed abandoned pursuant to subsection (a) of this section may have a notice affixed to it which informs the bicycle's owner that the bicycle appears to be abandoned. The commissioner of transportation or his designee is authorized to affix such notices upon bicycles. This notice shall indicate: (1) a telephone number for the owner to call to inform the department of transportation that the bicycle is not abandoned; and (2) the date after which the bicycle may be removed if it is not claimed by its owner. A bicycle shall not be deemed to be abandoned if the owner of the bicycle, within seven days of the affixing of a notice of abandonment, notifies the department of transportation that the bicycle is not abandoned. (c) If a bicycle is not relocated or claimed by its owner within seven days of the affixing of a notice of abandonment, that bicycle may be removed and disposed of by the commissioner of transportation or his designee.(Added Coun. J. 7-21-04, p. 28659, § 1)
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Added by BruceBikes at 1:30pm on December 10, 2012
urn Avenue, with a blood count almost doubt the .08 limit. He killed Bobby Cann. The States Attorney, Kim Foxx, accepted a plea deal that left him off the hook with only 10 days in jail, after he killed someone. Kim Foxx is able to claim this as a case successfully prosecuted since it resulted in a "conviction."
The judge was William Hooks, The defendant got a good lawyer and was given only 10 days in jail.
Ryne SanHamel ran a website called "allyoucandrink.com" which encouraged drinking. Stories about this can be read at:
https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/cyclist-bobby-cann-bike-safety-clybourn-lanes/Content?oid=11385971
https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/cann-san-hamel-cyclist-drunk-driver-sentencing/Content?oid=25446274
Read the transcript from the final hearing on this case:
http://homepages.neiu.edu/~rkastig1/Hearing01-26-17.pdf
On the way to the Critical Mass Polka Ride Party we should ride up Clyborn and pause at the Ghost Bike for Bobby Cann.…
Added by Bob Kastigar at 7:16am on January 26, 2018
nd decided to stay on our bikes and do a a ride around the city's perimeter. We got carried away and were still riding a few days later and well, the weather changed. Nobody ever found us but we were on the Lakefront path just south of the Field Museum when we were overcome by snow drifts. AFter we froze to death I think our bodies drifted into the lake. This site is run by our ghosts and we are kind of angry that we never got a chance to finish that ride. We take our anger out on the drivers who got stuck on Lake Shore Drive during that great snow and who veered off of the drive and knocked us off our bikes on the snowy path in the winter before the Summer of Love. None of us are real, or are real any more. We still marvel at how we, who perished long before the world wide web was anything more than a pet project at the Pentagon, can post messages to this forum. If we were real we would be riding bikes and riding ones with that new fangled index shifting and with tubes that did not have to be sewn up. No, we can't ride our bikes any more so we just talk about them. No, Donald, our chains rattle like those carried by Jacob Marley. They really don't link. Never did. You might wonder how we post pictures. Hmm, so do we.…
d would like to direct traffic please contact me at spencer@uglatto.com or call 1-312-725-6661. You'll get a lamented flyer out of the deal!
If you have a sound bike and want to sync soundtracks you can download the Best Damned Halloween Mixtape Sides A and B, here and here.The Yes Men! are reported to bring their survival ball to Daley Plaza around 5:30 and play with us until we leave. It's possible they have something clever in store for us because they are supposed to ride off with their ball so I think this silly thing has wheels! Maybe we can convince them to join us on the first leg of the trip.Alex Wilson of West Town Bikes fame is running a "Momentum Mori" which is a memorial ride for the cyclists who have been killed around the city. Inspired by the Ghost Bikes. Come join us for the procession this Friday, October 30th. They will meet at the Northwest corner of Clark and Randolph at 5:00pm to assemble for the ride. Dress in all white, as glammed up or ghouled out as you would like.…
a female bike courier. Now she's trying to raise $35,000 to shoot The Alley Cat, a feature-length about the rough-and-tumble world of underground messenger racing: http://gridchicago.com/2012/marie-ullrich-plans-to-deliver-a-feature-length-movie-about-messenger-racing/
Keep moving forward, John Greenfield
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