Ontario’s 2012 Cycling Death Review — A Turning Point for Safer Streets

In 2012, the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario released the Cycling Death Review, an in‑depth examination of the 129 Ontarians who lost their lives in cycling collisions between 2006 and 2010. Among them was OPP Sergeant Greg Stobbart — the husband of Share the Road’s Founder and Board Chair, Eleanor McMahon — whose death in 2006 became a catalyst for change.

Share the Road was proud to be part of the coalition that called for this Review, and we were the only NGO invited to sit on the expert panel. Our participation ensured that the voices of families, advocates, and everyday people who ride were represented in the recommendations that followed.

One of the Review’s most significant outcomes was its call for a provincial cycling strategy — a recommendation Share the Road strongly championed. In 2013, then Minister of Transportation Glen Murray unveiled #CycleON, Ontario’s first comprehensive, whole‑of‑government cycling strategy in more than 20 years. It set the stage for safer infrastructure, better design standards, and a recognition that cycling is a vital part of Ontario’s transportation future.

For our Founder sharing her story of loss has been a powerful reminder of why this work matters. Greg’s death — preventable, devastating, and emblematic of the systemic issues the Review exposed — continues to inspire our mission: to build a safer future for everyone who rides.

Today, as we work to expand Bikeability Ontario and strengthen cycling education and infrastructure across the province, we honour the lives lost and recommit ourselves to the vision the Coroner’s Review helped shape: an Ontario where choosing to ride a bike is safe, accessible, and supported in every community.