Cyclist takes city to labour board, claiming roads are unsafe workplace for those who bike for a living.
From the Star:
Ten years ago, bike courier Wayne Scott won an epic battle against Revenue Canada.
His arguments persuaded the Federal Court of Appeal to rule that bike couriers could claim food as a fuel expense on their tax returns.
Now Scott is taking the city to the Ontario Labour Relations Board, claiming Toronto's streets constitute an unsafe workplace for those who cycle on the job.
Three months after former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant was charged in the death of bike courier Darcy Allan Sheppard, Scott is asking the board to force Toronto to make its streets safer.
He wants the city to study the dangers on its roads and address the problems with better street design, enforcement of traffic rules and more bike lanes, within two years.
Scott, a once and future federal Green Party candidate, says the city has failed to apply the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which says employers must take reasonable precautions to protect their workers.
I don't think Scott has a particularly good case... as the city would only be guilty of not providing safe working conditions if they employed bike couriers (which they don't, although they may use their services).
However, I think a case could be made that the City isn't adequately providing safe commuting options for ALL Toronto citizens.
What do you think?
