Halifax cyclist's death prompts renewed calls for road safety measures

The death of a 71-year-old cyclist in Halifax after colliding with a vehicle door has reignited urgent calls for improved road safety measures. Nouman Ali, an engineering professor at Dalhousie University, was cycling along Strawberry Hill Street on July 17 when a driver opened a parked pickup truck's door, striking him.

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Any death on the road is one death too many.

Ali was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died. Halifax Regional Police confirmed the driver received a summary offense ticket, but stated it was for an inspection issue and unrelated to the dooring incident. The collision is still under investigation, with the accident reconstruction unit involved.

Road safety advocates expressed devastation over the incident. Sara Kirk, a Dalhousie professor and advocate, called Ali an "incredible academic and a great community member" and a "pillar" in the engineering department for over three decades. She highlighted that the collision is symptomatic of larger issues, including a lack of driver awareness and infrastructure that prioritizes cars over other modes of transport.

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He was such an incredible academic and a great community member.

David Trueman, co-chair of the Halifax Cycling Coalition, echoed these concerns. He noted that simple precautions, like the "Dutch Reach Method", using one's right hand to open the door, which naturally turns the body for better visibility, could prevent such tragedies. Police also emphasized the importance of drivers checking mirrors and being aware of their surroundings.

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This whole issue that … we do not create safe and supportive environments for people to be moving around if they’re not in a car. And that’s a problem.

Ali's research in transportation engineering and pavement design reportedly made a difference in communities beyond Dalhousie. His death underscores the ongoing debate about creating safer environments for cyclists and pedestrians in urban areas, particularly in a city where infrastructure is often perceived as car-centric.

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So the idea is that you train yourself to use your right hand to reach over to open the door. And in doing so, you’re naturally turned and in your peripheral vision you would catch that there might be someone approaching.