Three years after Tod Fox's wife Natasha was struck and killed by a concrete truck while cycling with their two young sons at the intersection of College Drive and Wiggins Avenue, Fox continues to advocate for road safety in Saskatoon. The 33-year-old mother died at the scene, while her sons survived the tragic incident.
A Daily Reminder
"Every day I come home, I pass by where my wife died," Fox said. "I say hi to Natasha leaving my house. I say hi when I come back." Despite the tragedy, Fox remains an avid cyclist, navigating the busy streets of Saskatoon with his sons. He wants cycling to remain a part of everyday life for his family. "The three of us are still avid cyclists despite it all. We still get outside, enjoy the sun and get the exercise," he said. While he acknowledges that driving a vehicle might be easier, he emphasized that is not the lifestyle he wants for his children.
Changing Culture, but Not Enough
Fox believes there will never be enough done to address road safety in Saskatoon, but he senses a shift in culture. "When it comes to cyclists and pedestrians, people have calmed down and are more willing to share the road," he said. He also credits the city for some efforts to improve safety overall. Natasha's death forced Fox to become well-versed in traffic safety to prevent future tragedies.
Fighting for Change
Fox, who admits he is not a traffic safety expert, said it was obvious that changes were needed at the high-traffic College and Wiggins intersection. However, he found "fighting with council to fix the intersection where Natasha died was really hard." In 2024, engineering firm CIMA+ brought forward 14 recommendations for the intersection, but city council voted to implement only 11, as per administration's advice. Many advocates, including Fox, fought for all recommendations to be passed, arguing that the approved ones would not sufficiently alter the situation. Later that year, the city added a bike box and prohibited right turns on red lights—features not included in the initial vote.
Fox recently sent a message to Mayor Cynthia Block, thanking her for her work but urging continued progress. "I don't want the city to wait for a death to continue the work that is happening," he said. He believes the changes coming from the Link Bus Rapid Transit route on College Drive will improve safety but stresses the need for monitoring to ensure effectiveness. According to the city, the College and Wiggins intersection is the busiest for cyclists, who account for 25 percent of all traffic. Fox pointed to a plan directing cyclists to cross College Drive at Munroe Avenue instead of Wiggins and wants to see further changes if this does not work.
Construction Zone Concerns
Fox also urges the city to enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety near construction zones, recalling a recent incident where he and his sons were caught in an area with excavators. He emphasized the need for proactive measures to prevent accidents before they occur.
