A hundred people, including the relatives of the young cyclist of 16 years Hapapée last week in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, were brought together on Wednesday evening to pay tribute to the scene of the drama, on the edge of Route 138.
“I want it to be a moment of meditation for the relatives of Rosalie and I hope it can be a small balm for them. No one deserves that, it’s really sad, ”said the instigator of the rally, Louis Garneau, in an interview with The newspaper.
Several people had already placed doggies and flowers or had scored a message of love in support of the family. A ghost bike had also been installed where the collision occurred in order to raise awareness among road users.
Photo Nicolas St-Pierre
“Sixteen, it’s young, too young. It is a drama for the family and for cyclists. You don’t have to happen. It is difficult to avoid 100% of accidents, but you have to be careful because cyclists are vulnerable, “continued the ex-Olympian and businessman.
The latter also sent a request to the Minister of Transport Geneviève Guilbault so that signs are installed at the entrance as well as at the exit of the city to remind motorists the distance to be respected between a cyclist and a car on the road.
Photo Nicolas St-Pierre
Better share the road
Louis Garneau also wanted to recall the importance of sharing the road, especially since in this case, Route 138 is part of the green road, a recognized cycling course which extends in all regions of Quebec, and that its large shoulder had therefore been designed to accommodate bikes.
“We often get screaming that we have no business on the roads, but the road is there to be shared. We do the exercise and we keep in health so you have to be patient and stop being aggressive. ”
The ex-Olympian and businessman Louis Garneau.
Photo Nicolas St-Pierre
Recall that the shock had also given way to misunderstanding and anger in the aftermath of the teenager’s death when some began to accuse cyclists and others to point the speed and the configuration of the road to social networks.
“There has been improvement for a few years, but there is still a lot of work and education to do at this level to prevent it from happening again. There are many cyclists in Quebec and they have the right to be on the road, “he concluded.
A blatant example
A cyclist present at La Vigil also agreed to testify about an episode of rage while driving lived earlier in the day while she was on the roadside in order to shed light on the problem.
“We were in the Duchesnay station sector, we were preparing to leave. There is a bus that happened so we packed up to make room and that’s where the driver stopped to shout us that we had no business there and that we were still in the way, “explains Josée Savard, president of the cyclorizon cycling club.
“It doesn’t make sense. It’s appalling, we only want to exercise. What should we do more? This is the kind of situation that happens frequently in cyclists and it gives dramas like this, ”she laments.
