RCMP have identified the cyclist killed in a crash on the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway as Junfeng Wu of Ottawa.

Wu, 40, died when he was struck by a Capital Taxi van at the the intersection at Onigam Street, which stretches from the parkway to nearby Lemieux Island on the Ottawa River, around 6:45 a.m. Friday.

There was extensive damage to the vehicle's front driver side.

Ottawa police and the RCMP, which manages traffic on federal roads in the capital region, are investigating.

"From early indications from witnesses, the cyclist was travelling in the east quadrant of the intersection northbound across Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway," said Cpl. John Graziano with RCMP traffic services.

He said the taxi was travelling westbound on the parkway. RCMP aren't indicating who was at fault in the collision, or if charges will be laid.

Capital Taxi issued a statement to CBC saying its thoughts are with the family of the deceased.

The company say it's waiting for information from the driver involved and the investigators to share some details of the accident.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the cyclist and the driver of the taxi at this time," said the company.

Cyclists vulnerable

Ian Fraser, co-owner of Cyclelogik in Hintonburg, said fatal incidents like this remind him how vulnerable cyclists are.

"We never win a dispute or an altercation or a right of way issue with a car because we're exposed," Fraser said. "We're on our bicycles, and it can be really scary."

Ian Fraser, co-owner of Cyclelogik, reacts to news of a cyclist killed in a collision on the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway. 0:25

Fraser said whenever there's a death, it hits Ottawa's tight-knit cycling community close to home.

"It's just such a profound tragedy that I think, before even trying to unpack what really happened, we all just step back and say, it could be somebody we know. It could be us."

RCMP took the opportunity to remind drivers of the following:

The speed limit on the parkway is 60km/h.

Drive according to roads and weather conditions.

Keep safe distance behind other vehicles.

Slow down and give yourself extra travel time.

Clear snow and ice from your vehicle.

Don't use cruise control.

Pay attention and anticipate your next move.

The parkway has since reopened.