The General Manager of the Greater Ottawa Truckers Association says better training is needed for large trucks sharing the roads with cyclists.
Ron Barr says drivers should be required to take refresher courses about general rules.
"If a guy has been driving for 10 years, he gets complacent," Barr told CFRA's Ottawa Now. "Every week my office gets a call for somebody on a phone or a seatbelt. They've been doing it for two or three years no seatbelts. All of a sudden they get caught. We've got to start reminding these to get back to basics - and they're my guys."
"My office is willing to work and educate and just give reminders," Barr added. "I've been doing that quite often lately. Just remember to do this. Remember your weights. Remember this, whatever."
But Barr said there must also be an onus on cyclists and pedestrians who should remain cautious when passing large vehicles, especially ones that are turning.
"As part of this initiative it's got to be around safety, but it also has to be safety of the public as well," said Barr. "They've got to understand you cannot come up right beside a truck and expect to be safe. There's got to be a provision that you stay back aways just in case something happens. It's your life at stake."
Barr added they would only support making side guards on trucks mandatory if it was an industry-wide standard.
He said they would like to be part of the ongoing safety audit and the working group on the Laurier bike lanes.