Death of experienced cyclist Yukako Fukuhara in Melbourne’s CBD prompts authorities to consider new campaign

A CBD cyclist who called Melbourne the “city of her dreams” was crushed by a trailer while riding her pink bike. Authorities are now working out how to ensure that never happens again.

Yukako Fukuhara was killed in May 2022 while riding through Melbourne’s CBD on her pink bike. Picture: SBS

An experienced cyclist who called Melbourne the “city of her dreams” was crushed by a huge tipper trailer while riding through the CBD, with authorities now considering a new safety campaign.

Yukako Fukuhara died at the intersection of King and La Trobe streets in May last year when she changed lanes and rode her pink bicycle into a gap between a truck and the ‘dog’ trailer it was towing.

As the truck slowly moved forward in peak-hour traffic, the trailer clipped the bike the 47-year-old Japanese student was riding, causing her to lose her balance and fall off.

The trailer then rolled over her body, causing her to suffer “catastrophic” head, chest and pelvic injuries. She died at the scene.

Ms Fukuhara rode her bike into the gap between this truck and its trailer. Picture: Josie Hayden

Deputy State Coroner Jacqui Hawkins, who last week released her findings into her death, concluded that Ms Fukuhara – who had moved to Melbourne only two months earlier – was likely unaware the truck was connected to the trailer.

In a heartfelt letter, the student’s partner of six years, Nozomi Kobayashi, told the Coroners Court ‘dog’ trailers towed by trucks are not seen on Japanese roads.

“If Yukako had recognised those vehicles as a connected truck and trailer, it is highly unlikely that she would take the risk of riding between them,” she wrote.

She added Ms Fukuhara was otherwise an experienced cyclist who was cautious and aware of her surroundings.

Yukako Fukuhara had moved to Melbourne to study English language. Picture: SBS

Yuka Kamada was killed while riding her bike through Brighton in 2018.

Her death follows that of another Japanese cyclist, Yuka Kamada, who was killed in 2018 in Brighton when she was also hit by a ‘dog’ trailer.

Speed camera commissioner John Voyage told the Herald Sun at the time he believed Ms Kamada thought the truck had passed her “not realising the trailer was still to come”.

Ms Fukuhara’s mother told the court her daughter had moved to Melbourne to study as she had a love for the English language.

The director of an English school where she attended told SBS at the time of the accident that Ms Fukuhara wanted to improve her English while living in the “city of her dreams”.

She said the 47-year-old aspired to work for a non-profit organisation like UNICEF and “help people in need”.

In April this year, a bench was unveiled on the Central Lawn of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Ms Fukuhara’s memory.

Ms Fukuhara died at the intersection of King and La Trobe streets. Picture: Josie Hayden

In her findings, Coroner Hawkins said cyclists are among Victoria’s “most vulnerable road users” and have “little protection compared to most other road users”.

“Given the increasing number of cyclists on our roads, it may be appropriate for an awareness campaign to be developed, regarding the dangers of bike riding around (trailer) trucks,” she said.

She formally recommended the Department of Transport and Planning, together with the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), consider developing a “public awareness campaign to highlight the dangers of cycling around (trailer) trucks in an urban setting”.

A department spokeswoman said it is “considering” the coroner’s recommendations.

“Our thoughts remain with everyone impacted,” she said.

“We will continue to work with our road safety partners to educate all road users about cyclist safety, because we know people on bikes are among our most vulnerable road users.”