A 37-year-old Nanaimo man died after colliding with a regional transit bus.
The accident happened Monday shortly before 5 p.m. when the cyclist hit the front passenger side of a bus headed downtown on Albert Street between Pine and Kennedy streets.
Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said the cyclist was on a mountain bike riding down Albert Street on the wrong side of the road.
"For some reason the cyclist decided to jump the curb. The bus driver couldn't veer to the left to get away from the guy because of oncoming traffic, so he's got nowhere to go," O'Brien said. "The bus went as far as the centre line, but couldn't go any further to prevent running into the other car. The cyclist hit the transit bus on the passenger side windshield."
The cyclist was not wearing a helmet and sustained severe head and internal injuries. He died in Nanaimo Regional General Hospital at about 11 p.m. Monday.
The driver and three passengers on the bus were not injured, but are being counselled by Victim Services, which is also assisting the family of the deceased.
Police attending the scene drove the bus passengers to their destinations.
No charges are pending against the driver of the bus.
"Again, it's a tragic reminder of how essential it is to have proper cycling gear – one being a helmet – and also to obey the rules of the road," O'Brien said.