By Gazette Staff
June 15th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington MP Karina rose in the House of Commons earlier this month to note and read into the record that it has been 20 years since the death of OPP Sergeant Greg Stobbart, a beloved Burlington resident who was killed by a careless motorist while on a training ride on his bike. He was a dedicated officer with 25 years of experience, a committed athlete and a deeply loved family man and friend.
Eleanor founded the Share the Road Cycling Coalition.
In the face of unimaginable loss, Greg’s wife, Eleanor McMahon, chose courage. She founded the Share the Road Cycling Coalition, which has since become one of the most influential road safety organizations in Canada.
Eleanor’s advocacy resulted in “Greg’s law”, Ontario’s one-metre safe passage law, strengthening penalties for drivers who injure or kill vulnerable road users. From grief to purpose, she transformed road safety in Ontario and saved lives.
With the 20th-anniversary Share the Road Gran Fondo in Milton and the annual Ontario Bike Summit, we remember Sergeant Stobbart, honour his legacy and together continue the work.
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I had not been aware of this incident before. Considering that this tragedy occurred so close to our ward 6, it is deeply concerning that rural road safety still does not appear to be receiving the level of attention and action it urgently deserves from both police and local government.
The data makes it clear that this is not an isolated concern. In Ontario, rural areas account for only about 17% of the population but roughly 55% of road fatalities, highlighting just how dangerous these roads have become.
Nationally, a collision in a rural area is over three times more likely to result in a fatality compared to an urban crash. [aors.on.ca] [preszlerlaw.com]
At this time of year, our rural roads—particularly Tremaine, Bronte Side Road, and Britannia—are heavily used by cyclists. At the same time, traffic volumes on Britannia have increased dramatically, including the continued presence of illegal semi-trucks and dump trucks on a narrow, two-lane rural road that was never designed to safely handle this type of traffic. The risks are well understood, and without intervention, it is only a matter of time before another serious or fatal incident occurs.
The danger is made even worse by the seasonal influx of motorcycle and sports car drivers who speed and race through these roads with little regard for others. This is especially hazardous for cyclists, who are required to travel in the same direction as traffic and often have no ability to see what is approaching from behind. Motorcyclists themselves are also among the most vulnerable road users, representing a small share of vehicles but a disproportionately high share of fatalities. [www150.statcan.gc.ca]
This is not a theoretical concern. I have personally had multiple close calls while walking my dog and have nearly been clipped by passing vehicles. The only reason I have avoided injury is because I walk facing oncoming traffic and can react when I see a vehicle drifting or a driver failing to pay attention. Cyclists do not have that same advantage.
We cannot continue to wait for another tragedy before taking this seriously.
I am calling on police and local government to act immediately by:
Increasing visible enforcement on Tremaine, Britannia, and surrounding rural roads
Enforcing restrictions on illegal truck traffic
Addressing speeding and racing through targeted enforcement campaigns
Implementing meaningful safety measures for cyclists and pedestrians
Public awareness alone is not enough—this requires enforcement, accountability, and real infrastructure and policy changes!!!
Hear hear!