'Wonderful friend, dad and partner,' killed while cycling in Leslieville, wife says

A cyclist fatally stuck while on his way to work Wednesday is being remembered as a "wonderful friend, dad and partner."

In a Facebook post Thursday, Christine Crosbie said the death of her husband, Douglas Crosbie, comes only weeks before their 25th anniversary. 

"It's hard to capture what a wonderful friend, dad and partner we lost," she wrote. "He was unfailingly supportive, smart, thoughtful and a great role model for our kids. He was my rock."

Christine said her husband had many friends, many of whom will also be grieving his loss. 

Crosbie, who was in his 50s, was hit by a truck at Jones Avenue and Dundas Street East on just after 8 a.m. Wednesday and later pronounced dead in hospital, according to police. 

The incident came just one day after the city launched an initiative to promote safer city streets for all road users. So far this year in Toronto, police say 17 pedestrians and cyclists have been killed on local streets.

'I use that lane every day,' says councillor

Toronto-Danforth councillor Paula Fletcher has long advocated for increased cyclist safety in her ward, where the collision occurred. 

"It's a terribly tragic situation. As east-enders and people that use that bike lane, we feel such a deep sadness for his family," she said.

Fletcher says the bike lane Crosbie died on is the very one she uses on her bike to work. 

"I use that lane every day, so it's particularly personal for me to have someone killed on what's supposed to be a lane that's supposed to be to keep cyclists safe." 

There are a number of things that can be done to make cycling safer, but city council is not making it a priority, Fletcher told CBC Toronto.  

"In reality, there's not the staff to do it, there's not the organization to put vulnerable road users at the top of the list."

Fletcher says intersections are particularly dangerous for cyclists and is suggesting that the city implement the "Dutch junction" design and created protected intersections. 

• The doors, the cars and the cure: City hall eyes new rules to prevent cyclist 'dooring'

This type of intersection, common in the Netherlands, incorporates four islands near each corner of the intersection. It prevent cars from entering the pathway of cyclists turning and allows cyclists traveling straight to move into the view of automobiles.