Jonathan Kay: The cyclo-martyrdom of Darcy Sheppard, and the real threat to bike couriers
August 30, 2010 – 1:31 pm
Wojtek Arciszewski / National Post
Cyclists protest the death of Darcy Allan Sheppard in Toronto on Sept. 2, 2009.
Yet in the year since Sheppard was killed, a cadre of his mourners insist that the privileged Bryant was the beneficiary of a conspiratorial cover-up. Even some mainstream journalists have helped create a sort of victim cult around Sheppard, presenting him as a road-safety martyr in the tribalized battle between vulnerable cyclists and nasty motorists.
Witness, for instance, Jennifer Yang’s article on the front-page of the Toronto Star‘s Tuesday city section, detailing a “memorial” bike ride staged on Sunday, by the city’s bike couriers, and led by Allan Sheppard, Darcy’s adoptive father. One of the organizers was Sonia Serba, who is quoted in Yang’s piece, and helped produce a rap-music video dedicated to the idea that Bryant got off the hook only because of his wealth and connections. “Another killer is walking the streets,” the video tells us. “Only, this one doesn’t wear gang colours. He drives luxury cars, and smokes fine cigars.” (The full lyrics appear here — and though I disagree with the premise of the video, I’ll admit some of them are clever.)
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Posted in: Canada, Full Comment, Uncategorized Tags: Toronto, Michael Bryant, Jonathan Kay, Darcy Allan Sheppard, Cycling, Road Safety, Bicycle Couriers
Porter: Confessions of an ex-warrior cyclist
Tue Aug 31 2010
Catherine Porter rides her new bike, Mary Poppins style and follows the rules. 
Consumers are about to feel the brunt of pharmacies’battle with the Ontario government over generic drug pricing as the country’s largest drugstore chain prepares to slash store hours and staff in a bid to escape a massive profit hit.
