Following a weather-induced cancellation on Thursday, the memorial “ghost ride” commemorating the life of a 66-year-old individual who tragically lost their life earlier this month after being struck by an SUV on Victoria St. North has been rescheduled for Sunday.
The “ghost bike” tradition involves repurposing an old bicycle, painting it white, and affixing it to a post near the site of a fatal accident. This serves as both a memorial and a call to action for increased road and bicycle safety awareness.
Janice Jim, Vice President of CycleWR, acknowledged the progress made in cities like Waterloo and Kitchener in terms of bicycle infrastructure safety but stressed the need for further improvements. She identified problematic areas, such as the multi-use trails along Victoria St. in Kitchener, where drivers often fail to prioritize the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, especially when exiting strip mall businesses along the route.
The ride will commence at Kitchener City Hall, with participants cycling to the intersection of Victoria St North between Frederick Street and Forfar Avenue, where they will honor the victim’s memory and advocate for enhanced road safety measures and awareness among all road users.
