Ghost Bike Memorial Installation

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The Edmonton Bicycle Commuters Society will be installing a Ghost Bike Memorial on Monday, November 6 at 1pm at 96 Street and 111 Avenue. Early Sunday, November 5, a 38-year-old man riding a bicycle was killed in a hit-and-run collision.

“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the victim, who are dealing with this tragic and untimely loss,” says Christopher Chan, executive director of the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters Society (EBC). “We hope that the driver responsible for this death comes forward to take responsibility.”

This location, along Norwood Boulevard, is just blocks from the EBC's volunteer-run community bike workshop, BikeWorks North. 96 St is also a designated bike route, connecting to the downtown bike network. 111 Avenue is part of the Norwood Boulevard Corridor Study, guiding an Area Redevelopment Plan, which began in 2014 to recreate the area as a pedestrian-friendly destination following Edmonton's Complete Streets and Main Streets Guidelines.

In August 2012, Isaak Kornelsen was killed while riding his bicycle on Whyte Avenue, just two blocks from EBC's second community workshop, BikeWorks South. A protected bike lane along 83 Avenue is now partially open, providing a safer option for people travelling past Whyte Ave.

This ghost bike is the seventeenth ghost bike EBC has installed since 2007, but the first in the urban area since 2014, when 50-year-old Wendee Hockney was killed by a garbage truck while riding on 100 Ave at 112 St. 100 Avenue is also a heavily-used bike route, now connecting to the busiest section of the downtown bike network.

Ghost Bikes, bicycles painted all-white and placed at the site where a person riding a bike has been killed, are small and sombre memorials for people killed by automobiles. The installations are meant as reminders of the tragedy that took place, and as quiet statements in support of the right of all people to safe travel.