A jogger was taken to hospital after being clipped by an electric bicycle Wednesday night on the E&N Trail near Portage Park and Shoreline Middle School.
A nearby resident who did not want to be named estimated the e-bike was travelling about 40 kilometres an hour when the collision happened about 7:15 p.m.
She said high speeds are an issue on the trail, and called for lower-speed zones near parks and schools.
The resident said her house borders the E&N Trail and incidents like the one on Wednesday are “super common.”
“It’s getting ridiculous,” she said. “I’ve got two young kids and they can’t even go out of the gate. It’s like crossing a road.”
The resident said she was out watering her garden when the e-bike went by. “He looked up last minute and swerved to avoid the jogger but clipped him really hard on the elbow.”
The e-bike rider then lost control and continued for several metres before falling and going head-first into a chain-link fence.
The jogger had the presence of mind to call 911, the resident said.
“He was really hurt, he was moaning.”
Both the jogger and e-bike rider were treated at the scene by paramedics and transported to hospital with minor injuries, West Shore RCMP said.
“The pedestrian advised they were struck from behind and requested police speak to the cyclist about rider-pedestrian safety,” police said in a statement. “They did not wish to pursue charges against the cyclist.”
Police said the cyclist told them the jogger had stepped into his path.
Capital Regional District regulations say e-bikes aren’t allowed to go faster than 32 kilometres an hour on regional trails without pedalling, but there are no posted speed limits.
Last July, a pedestrian was hit on the Victoria West section of the Galloping Goose Trail, an incident that also drew calls for speed restrictions on regional trails.
The CRD’s regional-trail etiquette recommendations include controlling speed, yielding to pedestrians and horse riders, and alerting other trail users when passing.
An annual awareness campaign to promote trail etiquette called Cruise With Courtesy runs from July to September, with CRD staff such as park rangers and bylaw officers patrolling busy trail sections.
Their duties can include stopping cyclists considered to be riding in a dangerous manner, including those going too fast, the CRD said in a statement.
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