Family of man hit by cyclist pleads for bike lanes

A man rides on the sidewalk, right past where Brian Okamoto and his sister, Karen, leave flowers and a sign where their dad was hit while walking. (Rick Madonik/The Toronto Star)

Nobu Okamoto spent his final days at Toronto Western Hospital, unable to see, move or speak to the loved ones at his side.

His son, Brian, 35, whispered, “I love you” into his ear while his daughter, Karen, 31, often turned on the radio so her baseball-loving father could listen to the Blue Jays play.

Last Monday, the 74-year-old father of three died, several weeks after he was struck by a cyclist while walking on Finch Ave. W., near Sentinel Rd. He was going to the bank.

The 33-year-old cyclist was handed a ticket for riding on a sidewalk in North York, a fine of $3.75.

On Wednesday morning, Brian Okamoto and his sister, Karen, took a bouquet of flowers to the scene where their father was hit.

A nearby hydro pole was transformed into a tribute for the man they fondly remembered as a caring father with a penchant for telling jokes.

“It’s been really tough, no question about it. My mom is really stressed out and we’re just trying to be strong about it,” said Brian. “It’s just been really upsetting.”

Police said Okamoto was struck around 10:15 a.m. on Aug. 4, suffering head injuries, cuts and scrapes to the right side of his body. His family said Okamoto also had a fractured skull, dislocated shoulder and internal bleeding.

An autopsy is currently being done.

The “concerned and remorseful” cyclist remained on the scene, according to a police report.

Investigators are looking at possibly charging the cyclist because of Okamoto’s death, his children said. However, Staff Sgt. Leah Gilfoy of 31 Division was unable to confirm that.

Last month, a cyclist struck a 56-year-old woman, fracturing her skull after she fell onto the paved road. The 49-year-old man was charged with careless driving and fined $400 under the Highway Traffic Act.

Drivers who injure or kill a person can be charged criminally with dangerous driving. However, the charge only covers motorized vehicles.

The Finch Ave. W. sidewalk, between Sentinel Rd. and Tobermory Dr., is frequently used by cyclists as well as pedestrians. The slight slope means westbound cyclists often accelerate to fast speeds, said Brian Okamoto.

During Wednesday’s visit to the area, the siblings had to step onto the grass several times to avoid oncoming cyclists.

“I try not to get angry or upset anymore, but you still feel it in your blood when you see it,” Brian said.

Although Nobu Okamoto was a private man, who enjoyed walking on the waterfront and reading newspapers at the Toronto Reference Library, his children decided to share their story to highlight the dangers of sidewalk cycling.

“I just want justice done because I’m a cyclist too,” said Brian. “I think there needs to be more enforcement. I ride my bike downtown and I see dangerous things happening all the time.

“It’s not safe at all.”

The Okamoto family recently told local councillor Anthony Perruzza about the incident, pleading for more bike lanes to increase safety.

While civil litigation against the cyclist is an option, the family hasn’t entertained the idea.

“We haven’t committed to anything yet,” said Brian. “We’re just grieving now.”

--Liem Vu, Staff Reporter

Comments

[D Garrison]

Bike lanes are great things. More cities should have more of them.

However, if there aren't bike areas in dangerous areas, I don't see an issue with bikes on the sidewalk. However, the cyclists must ride at safe speeds and ring their bell as they approach pedestrians. Pedestrians must have their iPods turned down enough to hear the warnings produced by cyclists. A runner can knock over a pedestrian just as easily if the pedestrian is not aware of his/her surroundings and steps out into the path of a runner.

[Walking Target]

Cyclists and pedestrians are a dangerous mix. Pedestrians can't see or hear a cyclist coming up behind them until they're about a foot away. Cyclists are required by law to ring a bell to warn of their approach, but by my estimate, only about 5% actually do it. Can't we raise awareness and enforce this law? It would add enormously to the safety of pedestrians. Imagine if only 5% of dog owners kept their pets on a leash. I'm sure at one point that was the percentage, but a public campaign and enforcement have turned that around. We can turn this around too. It's only a $5 or $10 bell, requires only the flick of a thumb, and would save lives and countless injuries. Surely that's not asking too much of our cycling friends?

[Lenardz]

While bike lanes will help in some instances (for normal law abiding cyclist), I've seen way too many times where cyclists go outside of their bike lanes disregarding any rules what-so-ever.

These cyclist speed down the roads running past red lights, zipping between cars and yes, meandering into the car lane without looking back. And why are they able to do this? Because we've given them a nice protection bubble. Regardless of who caused the accident, the cyclist is never at fault. Well, it's time to take away this protection that cyclists have happily abused and make them liable.

[Shira Cherns]

I am amazed and disgusted by what I see going on both downtown and in the suburbs, where I live. Cyclists riding with no helmets, blatently disregarding traffic rules and sailing through red lights, riding extremely fast on sidewalks while expecting pedestrians to get out of the way. I sometimes take the bus home from the GO station in Mississauga where I live. The walkway where the bus stop is located is also used by cyclists. There is a pair of cyclists who often ride past me, at very high speed, ringing their bike bells to tell people to get out of the way. If they hit anybody, it would be a disaster, yet they don't slow down even though they are riding through a group of people. I'm all for the environmental and health benefits of cycling, but riders must be held to the same law enforcement as other vehicles, and they *definitely* should not be riding on sidewalks.

[Alan]

Biking with 26" wheels or larger is illegal and this rule needs to be enforced!!!

Even if you have a bike with 24" wheels or smaller, pedestrians should still have the rights of way. Cyclist need to yield to pedestrian. pedestrians shouldn't be walking on the grass to avoid a cyclist. The cyclist should stop, dismount if necessary and pull to the side to let pedestrians pass by. Moving onto the grass (someone's lawn) is also consider trespassing on private properties. If the cyclist dismount and hold their bike close to them, there should be enough space for a full size adult or even a baby stroller to pass through on the sidewalk.

Crashing someone on the sidewalk and getting them killed, then get charged from 3 bucks to 400 is truly ridiculous and this law needs to change.

Cyclist should (and I never see this) dismount and walk their bike when they use crosswalk. If you are going to ride on the sidewalk, at least dismount at crosswalk. It is hard for cars to distinguish if the biker is on the road or continuing on side walk if cyclist cross the road riding on the bike.

[Gloria]

The only problem is that there are more and more bicycles and they are on the roads and sidewalks and there are no laws to regulate them. Not all the people on the sidewalks are agile, some are elderly, handicapped, children. I guess it is too bad for them that they can't jump fast enough to avoid speeding bikes.

[JANE DOE..]

there should be no bikes on sidewalks ...PERIOD...HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST DIE OR BE INJURED.

[hari s]

I agree with the comment here that cyclists should not be prohibited in all circumstances from riding on the sidewalk. But the conditions should be clear that pedestrians have the right of way no matter what. Because a bicyclist rings his bell does not mean that the pedestrian has to get out of the bicyclist's way. I have experienced too much of that downtown and I am tired of jumping out of the way just for the sake of peace. I will continue to do that because it is still the best option in the circumstances, but it would be nice if the bullying attitude of those few cyclists, who give the rest of the cyclists most of whom are decent, a bad name got a bit of kickback from the law and the courts.

That the cyclist feels remorse for killing an innocent man who was walking where he should have been walking means nothing. Just being sorry does not cut it. Something more has to be done in respect of the law for proper punishment, deterrence and restitution, or these situations are going to replay again and again.

[David]

The anti-car movement in this city has given cyclists that feeling of entitlement, which partly is responsible for the wholesale disregard even for the existing laws government cycling. At night (on College W), I would estimate less than 5% of the cyclists had lights. Many did not wear helmets; they would weave in and out of traffic (and criss crossing the road) as if the moving cars were stationary obstacles or could somehow ignore the laws of physics and stop instantly. Of course, most of the cyclists ignored traffic lights and stop signs. I hope the cyclist who killed that elderly man, gets sued for everything he/she owns; unless the authorities are willing to legislate changes, lawsuits are the only way to accomplish anything. If I hear of the victim's family starting up a legal fund to pursue this cyclist (or other dangerous/reckless cyclists), I would gladly donate.

[Simon]

Many roads where there are no bike lanes are dangerous for cyclists - a lack of bike lanes results in injury and death for cyclists. However, if cyclists are going to ride on sidewalks for their own safety, they should only do so on empty sidewalks and must always give pedestrians the right of way and should not be cycling close to doors and such - cyclists who don't do this are creeps. It is not the fault of pedestrians that there are a lack of bike lanes (well maybe if they voted for the current clown we have for a mayor it is, but even if they did they still have a right to walk safely).

[Alex MacLean]

While I feel for these people, I think they are making an illogical assumption that sidewalk bicycling is caused by lack of bike lanes.

I live downtown in an area well-served by bicycle lanes, and people still use the sidewalk.

The police need to start enforcing the law, and get cyclists off the sidewalks.

[Simon Strauss - Board of Directors, Toronto Cyclists Union]

There are a ton of ways to make cycling in the city safer, including getting organized and making sure that there are enough bike lanes for cyclists, as well as improving cyclist and driver education. If you want to get involved with making changes in your neighbourhood (instead of just posting comments about it), consider joining a Toronto Cyclists Union Ward Advocacy Group - http://bikeunion.to/wards.

[Jona]

Side WALK. Side WALK. Why is this so difficult. Bikes - get off the sidewalk.

[Tubbs]

I'm really starting to get tired of this. Just because you know how to ride a bike doesn't make you a cyclist. Unfortunately proper cyclists always get painted under the same brush. It seems that common courtesy is all but forgotten in this city. A real cyclist knows that pedestrians ALWAYS have the right of way and must yield or slow down when approaching anyone on foot. I often use paths as a shortcut after a long ride with my bike club. One time 2 elderly ladies with grocery bags crossed my path. They were suprised by the fact that I actually stopped and yielded the path to them. There is a proper time and place if you want to pretend you are Lance Armstrong. A path and or a sidewalk is not the place for that.

[10 of 9 of borg]

Riding cycling on the sidewalk are just as dangerous as car to people across a street using a crosswalk.

[10 of 9 of borg]

Addition, I am deaf and I wouldn't hear anything someone riding a bike on the sidewalk happen to be more dangerous than the hearing. On Queen just as bad.

[CKHY]

Bike lanes. You just need to walk along the water front, you will see many cyclists ride on the side walk rather than on the bike lane. They travel at any direction they like, stop at red lights and stop signs and yield for pedestrians only if they feel like it.

[Monica Doedens]

Riding along bike paths I have noticed that ringing a bell often causes a problem. Pedestrians are startled and jump right in front of the bike. I find that slowing down and calling "passing on your left" works much more effectively. They know I see them and they know where I am going. Pedestrians can help by staying on the right and being aware that there are others that use the trials. Sidewalks are another issue. If a cyclist uses a sidewalk, they must exercise extreme caution.

[cherie]

As a pedestrian it is my strong belief that bicycles should NOT be on the sidewalk. Nothing incenses me more than a cyclist that rides up behind me and dings their bell as I am walking on the sidewalk - especially when there is a dedicated bike lane on that same road). In my experience it seems as though there are cyclists that want to be considered as vehicles but only when it is convenient for them - they want dedicated bike lanes (which I fully support), they want drivers to pay attention to them and to notice them on the streets. And yet they do not want to stop for TTC vehicles, stop signs, pedestrians crossing the street or traffic lights for that matter. Bicycles are vehicles and should be held accountable as such. Sidewalks are for walking on not for vehicles to drive on.

[Just Missed]

I had a cyclist come up behind me in Mississauga when I was out for a walk. I told the cyclist they should be on the road. Their response, 'F... You'. I love how cyclists expect drivers to watch for them but they exhibit no concern for pedestrians. It needs to be against the law to ride on the sidewalk unless you're under the age of 12. As for helmets, I'm surprised more cyclists don't wear them as they're investing in their own safety.

[epictetus]

Imagine the same story but replace "pedestrian" -> "cyclist" and replace the "cyclist" -> "car" ... and "sidewalk" -> "bike lane" .... imagine the outrage, the outcry and people complaining how vicious cars are against bikes and how the driver should be put to death or something.... Compare that to this story where a cyclist killed a pedestrian on a sidewalk, get away with $3.75 fine.

[James]

Bikes belong on the road or in bike lanes, not on the sidewalk. The bike rider should be charged with negligent homicide.

[Arnica]

Bell or no bell, bicycle should only stay on the road. Sidewalk should strictly be for people and little kids on their trikes. Every time I see a teenager or a grown up riding on a sidewalk, we had to exchange eyes and see if they are going to the right or left and sometimes we both had to flinch a few times before knowing which side we will go. Every cyclist should have to pass a test to make sure they know the road safety and the hand signals. And while I am here, I also dislike those people that ride their ebikes on the sidewalk and those kids who drive their large battery power cars that takes up the whole sidwalk. It is cute for you but not for others who have to around you.

[Jeff]

That fine is almost a joke. It is certainly a slap in the face to the family of this now deceased individual. What an absolute joke this is.

[Nick]

Everyone needs to stop generalizing about drivers, cyclists or pedestrians. There are good and bad examples of each. For the most part there are rules in place for each that may not be fully enforced. That needs to change. Finally, roads and sidewalks are in place for drivers and pedestrians where needed but we are definitely lagging in bike lanes. That needs to change too.