After he slammed face first into the asphalt and blacked out during a Wednesday bike accident, a John Abbott College physics professor took to social media to warn West Islanders about a dangerous crosswalk at the corner of Thrush and Lakeshore.
Etienne Portelance says he turned west onto Lakeshore from Thrush only going about 7 km/h, but says he went over after his front tire slipped on white paint infused with glass beads.
Dorval officials say the glass beads make that part of the street more visible to drivers.
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They added, following Portelance’s accident, they have cleaned excess beads from the crosswalk to make it safer.
But Portelance has launched a petition on Facebook calling on city officials to keep a one-metre section of crosswalks paint-free.
“It would be still safe for drivers, because they could still see,” he said.
When asked about specifics on the accident, Portelance said someone told him he was on the ground for 10 minutes.
“And I said… ‘uh-oh.'”
Portelance has noticeable scabs on his forehead and right knee. He says after the fall he regained consciousness and realized his glasses had flown off and that he was in the middle of the street. An ambulance picked him up about an hour-and-a-half later.