Bears pose less of a threat than drivers

This summer in Sudbury, we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of bears roaming about our neighbourhoods.

In letters to the editor, columns and Facebook comments, people have demanded changes and chastised others for attracting bears to their neighbourhoods. Inevitably, someone warns that if something isn’t done soon, a child will get hurt.

On Monday afternoon, a seven-year-old girl was sent to the hospital after she was hurt while out for a walk. She wasn’t attacked by a bear. She was hit by a pick-up truck.

Last year, more than 70 people were hit by vehicles while walking. Three people were killed. But 2014 was not a exceptional year for pedestrian crashes and deaths. Sudbury averages about 68 pedestrian collisions each year, and about three deaths. Where is the outrage? Where are the demands that something be done?

We’ve heard feature interviews with bear specialists on the radio, read editorials in the newspaper. The city even brought MNR officials before council to atone for cutbacks to the provincial Bear Wise program.

Meanwhile we’ve sat silent while dozens of people are injured each year. In 2007, council passed a resolution to become the most pedestrian-friendly city in Ontario by 2015. There are experts who can advise how to help make that happen. Gil Penalosa from 8 to 80 Cities made a presentation to council in 2009, but it’s apparent his comments fell on deaf ears as the number of collisions, and the number of pedestrian deaths in Sudbury, has remained steady since then, despite numerous road “improvements” throughout the city.

In June, Greater Sudbury Police released figures showing that, in 2014, charges were laid against drivers in 20 out of 74 collisions involving pedestrians. Only two pedestrians were charged by comparison. When the majority of collisions are found to be no fault, the fault really lies with the design of the road.

This year, the city finally presented the draft transportation master plan to the public, an update to the 2005 plan. Since this project began, hundreds of people have been hit by cars, and over a dozen have been killed, yet there is no mention of pedestrian crashes or fatalities in the draft plan. The plan reads as though pedestrian safety comes third, after smooth traffic flow, wider roads and more lanes.

We can change that. The final deadline for submitting comments on the draft transportation master plan is this Friday, Aug. 28.
We can do something about these injuries and deaths. We have to do something before another child gets hurt.

Matt Alexander
Greater Sudbury