Photo Caption
Councillor Melanie McCollum’s mother dies in bicycle-truck accident in Courtenay
On an unusually warm Oct. 2 Sunday, an older woman rode her bicycle to do some errands in downtown Courtenay. Just after noon, she collided with a large truck near the intersection of Fourth Street and Cliffe Avenue. People having lunch or a beer in Gladstone’s outdoor patio might have witnessed what turned out to be a fatal accident.
Jamie McCue was also riding his bike that day and rode past the scene on his way home. He saw emergency vehicles, a large white truck, uniforms and onlookers. He took it all in and rode away.
Later that afternoon, McCue was starting to make dinner plans. His wife, Courtenay Council member Melanie McCollum, was at a field watching one of their daughters’ soccer games.
At 5:15 pm, while standing on the sidelines, Melanie’s telephone rang. On the line was an emergency room doctor from Victoria General Hospital.
That was the moment Melanie learned that her mother, Ruth McCollum, 68, was the cyclist who had collided with the truck in Courtenay. She had been flown to Victoria because of the severity of her injuries. Surgery was required but there was no guarantee she would survive it.
And she would not. Melanie and other McCollum family members traveled to Victoria on Monday where they made the decision to discontinue life support.
McCollum and her family are now grieving.
“We are still in shock, and I’m turning all of my energy toward grieving and supporting my family at this time. While I’m still a candidate for Council, I’m taking a step back from campaigning and wanted people to understand the reason why,” she wrote on her council Facebook page.
McCollum may have suspended her campaign activities for the Oct. 15 election, but her council colleagues have continued to carry her brochures and her message to voters.
It is, of course, heart-wrenching that one of McCollum’s campaign messages has been a fierce defense of the council’s decision to introduce bike lanes on city streets.
The odds are incalculable that a candidate in favor of bike lanes as a means of increasing traffic safety should lose her mother to a bike crash in the midst of an election where some challengers have tried to make bike lanes a controversial issue.
It feels awkward to say right now, but doesn’t this tragically inconceivable accident highlight the value of protected bike lanes and validate the council’s actions?
There is no official police report yet about the accident. But whether the truck driver or the cyclist must shoulder the majority of blame for what happened in this particular accident makes no difference.
The point is that anything a city can do to make our roads safer for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, children and the mobility impaired should be praised, not criticized.
WHAT’S THE VALUE OF YOUR LOVED ONES’ LIVES?
But one or two candidates in this election have made it their goal to unseat the incumbents by shamelessly using protected bike lanes as a punching bag.
They have tried to imply that the City Council has “misspent” local taxes to build these safer bike lanes, calling it a waste of our money.
Setting aside the misinformation in that allegation – the 17th Street project was primarily funded by a federal infrastructure grant – what monetary value would you put on the life of your child, your spouse or your parent?
Why is there such vocal outrage about something that benefits so many? Studies and real-life experience show that cities with separated and protected bike lanes have reduced fatalities for everyone using the roadways.
“The most comprehensive study of bicycle and road safety to date finds that building safe facilities for cyclists is one of the biggest factors in road safety for everyone. Bicycling infrastructure — specifically, separated and protected bike lanes — leads to fewer fatalities and better road-safety outcomes for all road users,” says a University of Colorado, Denver study.
There is always room for civil public discourse about where bike lanes are most needed and where traffic safety poses the greatest risk. But with the invention and popularity of electric bicycles, there will be more and more cyclists on all of our roadways.
According to Statistics Canada, more commuters now walk or bike to work than take public transit.
Local governments have an obligation to make our communities safe for everyone. And it’s okay for people to choose to commute or get around town on bicycles. They shouldn’t be made to feel like second-class citizens.
And, yeah, we’ve all seen bicyclists roll through stop signs. But who hasn’t seen drivers doing the same thing every day?
Let’s have more compassion for people who want to use bicycles to move around out communities. It’s clean and efficient and adds a certain charm to our ambiance.
And let’s drop the rhetoric that improving traffic safety through protected bike lanes only benefits one segment of the population and that it’s somehow a misuse of public funds. That’s a bunch of nonsense from desperate candidates who run negative campaigns for personal gain.
WHERE AND WHEN TO VOTE
General Voting Day is Saturday, Oct. 15 for all local government positions.
Comox Valley Regional District
General Voting Day and advance voting take place at the CVRD building in Courtenay from 8 am to 8 pm.
Go to this link for General Voting Day locations in the three Electoral Areas.
Courtenay
Advance Voting continues on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, 8 am to 8 pm at the Florence Filberg Centre.
General Voting Day, Saturday, October 15, 2022, 8 am to 8 pm at the Queneesh Elementary School, and at the Florence Filberg Centre.
Comox
Advance voting continues today Monday, October 10 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Genoa Sail Building at Comox Marina, and on Wednesday, October 12 from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. at the Comox Community Centre.
General Voting Day runs from 8 am to 8 pm on Oct. 15 at the Comox Community Centre.
Cumberland
All voting in the Village of Cumberland takes place from 8 am to 8 pm at the Cumberland Cultural Centre. The next Advance voting takes place on Oct. 12
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Let’s put one of the craziest Comox Valley elections into the history book, and then close it
It was weird. But when the sun rose on Oct. 16, Comox Valley voters had made it clear they liked the direction charted by our local governments. In the municipalities, they elected all but two incumbents. In most races, the vote was a definite pat on the back for a job well done.
Here’s the latest Comox Valley local government election results
Mayor Bob Wells and all Courtenay incumbent councillors have been re-elected. Evan Jolicoeur has also been elected. Manno Theos has lost his seat.
Jonathan Kerr, Jenn Meilleur, Steve Blacklock, Chris Haslett, Ken Grant and Maureen Swift have been elected in Comox.
Vickey Brown has been elected mayor in Cumberland, defeating long-time mayor and councillor Leslie Baird.
Voting down -20.6% in Courtenay, -22.3% in Comox and -50.9% in Cumberland.
Full results with Electoral Areas A, B and C, school board and Islands Trust results in the morning.
Daniel Arbour in Area A and Edwin Grieve in Area C won by wide margins. Richard Hardy defeated Arzeena Hamir by 23 votes.
Shannon Aldinger topped the polls in races for SD71 school trustees.
Click the headline on this page for complete results and voter turnout.
A few random items as the 2022 election comes to a close
Long-time public official Bronco Moncrief dies, Manno Theos hangs out in Greece, and Daniel Arbour reacts to lies about his campaign finances
Who’s behind the shadowy Comox Valley political action groups? We shine some light
We dig deeper into what may have driven the darker, angry tone in this year’s municipal elections, and we shine a light on the shadowy political action groups and the Big Money players who have taken an interest in the Comox Valley
Local candidates clam up rather than speak to Comox Valley voters in public
Many Courtenay, Comox and electoral area candidates with similar ideologies have usurped the democratic process this year by declining to attend organized public forums, a huge disservice to voters
Decafnation candidate voting sheet
A list of candidates endorsed by Decafnation
Decafnation recommends these candidates as District 71 trustees
Decafnation’s panel of education insiders unanimously recommends these candidates for the School District 71 Board of Education
School District 71 candidates respond to our questions
Candidates for the School District 71 Board of Education answer three questions about sexual health education, the role of trustees in relation to climate change and how to address overcapacity
Our recommendations in the 2022 Comox Valley local government elections
Decafnation announces its list of preferred candidates in this year’s local government elections and for the first time we identify candidates that we think show promise and provide our reasons for not endorsing the other candidates. Our endorsements fall on the first day of voting at advance polls
This list of candidates is anything but ‘mainstream;’ why running ‘out of town’ feels icky
The announcement nobody was waiting for arrived over the weekend when CV Mainstream trotted out their list of endorsed candidates without any justification for these particular candidates, and we notice somebody was conspicuously missing
This is so awful for Melanie and her family, for our whole community in the valley. I am an avid cyclist and I see all the time situations in which both cyclists and vehicles, and more and more, the electric bikes, are not following safety rules. It is very sad that this has happened. I can’t imagine what it must be like for Melanie and her family and the whole community.
I support the designated pedestrian and cycle bridge, though I know it costs money and we know spending tax money is not what a lot of us want done. I do and would pay more, but then I have some money to afford it, though I am not rich. We need to all follow closely both rules of the road and common sense. I have been nearly hit a few times coming along many streets and roads, especially dangerous is Condensory where there is literally not enough room especially on the right, heading into town, for a bike…when trucks especially are coming down. This issue is not going to get better until we all follow rules and common sense.
I see cyclists all the time not signaling. I want to scream and ask them to give their head a shake. Signaling is to help not only the drivers but also the cyclists! I see cars cut off cyclists as well. It is getting more difficult as we get more people, more eBikes, more vehicles. Ebikes seem to have taken off and I wonder if some of them know that there is a speed limit for them, and that because they can go fast, it does not mean they should go so fast when they are on sidewalks. I am not dumping on any one group, this cycling and safety issue is an issue for us all. My heart grieves for any family who loses someone in an accident such as this.
I have never lived in a community where bicyclists were so vilified. Bike lanes away from roadways need to be built as well. A bike/walking lane along the water from Comox to Courtenay would help the traffic congestion problem in the valley. It is sad that someone must die before there is any action. Condolences to Melanie’s family.
There was a cyclist killed by a dumptruck and pu when he turned right on a red light( legally) .the pup ran over the cyclist. Today we were at the corner of 8 th st and Cliffe trpurning right and a cyclist was right up tight to the stop line. We could not make the turn on red because she was so far forward, even though the turn for us was legal. I do not think a high dump truck or ei would even see the person on a bike. Perhaps they need a stop line a lot further back to oavoid this kind of accident.
I find your your publication very informative. A real asset too to the Comox Valley.
My deepest condolences to Councillor McCollum and her family.
I support active transportation infrastructure improvements as they make our roads safer for everyone.
I am tired of hearing the ‘car lobby’ make road infrastructure an ‘us against them’ issue.
Roads and commensurate city budgets have been dominated by vehicles and drivers for the better part of a century. Pedestrians and cyclists deserve to have safe and connected infrastructure too. It’s the right thing to do.
It’s not only the right thing to do, it’s CHEAPER than maintaining car infrastructure, by a lot. It seems to strange to me that people are fighting against this without doing their research. It benefits everyone. Some now, some later, but in the end, we all benefit from better, safer, more accessible infrastructure.
That is so sad. We really need a bike path outside the Puntledge Campground on Condensory. Peace & Reconciliation Pathway leading to the One Spot Trail, which as far as I am concerned can also be renamed. I am in favour of renaming places after the virtues which public figures embody … My heartfelt sympathies to the family of the bereaved. In gratitude to all the work our civic leaders do, Happy Thanksgiving.
My heartfelt condolences go out to Melanie and her family. A tragic loss to a family. There can be more to improve the safety of cyclists while mingling with traffic, maybe education and licensing but, on the other hand, there are too many drivers who are impatient and don’t exercise caution when among cyclists. In today’s environment, riding is far more dangerous than 30 years ago and you have to wonder why….is it our lack of compassion for others, or is it the lack of proper driving instructional techniques or is it a busy lifestyle in the fast lane.
Safe bike lanes also protect drivers. I would hate to be the driver of the truck involved in this accident. He or she is surely suffering terribly and will live with this forever.
I am a resident of Comox and a fair-weather biker. Most of my biking occurs in late spring, summer and early fall. I make every effort to plan a route to wherever I’m headed in order to avoid the busiest streets in Comox. I recently was in a locker room discussion with an individual who said that she could hardly wait for the rainy season so that at least some bicyclists would get off the road. I reminded her that bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as do motorists on road and that our communities have a responsibility to provide safe travel for all vehicles and all pedestrians. And we all have a responsibility to share the road. With that said, I recommend the Ride Right Course in bike safety sponsored by the Comox Valley Cycling Coalition. I learned lots in taking that course from the well-informed and patient instructors. I send a calming white light to Melanie and her family at this difficult time.
MY HEART CRIES OUT WHY AND PRAYERS ARE SENT FOR HER FAMILY
IF THEY HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS THEN THEY HAVE TO BE LICENCED, INSURED, WEAR CORRECT SAFETY GEAR AND THEIR VEHICLE HAS TO BE SAFETY CHECKED. THEIR HELMETS MUST BE OF THE BEST QUALITY AND THEY NEED TO HAVE ADDITIONAL BRIGHT VESTS. IF THEY ARE MOTORIZED VEHICLES ELECTRIC OR NOT THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE A MOTORCYCLE OPERATORS LICENCE.
ALL CAPS BECUASE I AM SCREAMING