The Edmonton Bicycle Commuters Society will be installing a Ghost Bike Memorial on Friday, March 6 at noon on Range Road 252, Leduc County, approximately 500m north of Highway 19 (approximate location depicted at https://goo.gl/maps/uYI2T). On February 23, 2015, Christopher Beaulieu, age 21, was tragically killed while cycling south of Edmonton. He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his family, including his brother, sisters and parents, as well as many other family members and friends. Christopher, an experienced cyclist who always rode with bike lights, had left work in south Edmonton around 5:30pm and was riding his fatbike on a 30-40km training ride for an upcoming tour this summer when he was struck from behind around 6:30pm. The temperature was about 7 degrees Celsius and conditions were clear.
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Christopher, who are dealing with this tragic and untimely loss,” says Chris Chan, Executive Director of the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters Society. “Christopher was not alone in cycling on the highways around Edmonton. Even in the winter, there are many commuters who travel by bike between Edmonton and its surrounding communities. Especially with this winter’s warm temperatures and clear roads, there are even more people choosing to ride for transportation as well as for fitness and recreation. All road users need to be aware of each other and share the road year round, for everyone’s safety.
"Christopher's colleagues at his workplace initially contacted us to request this Ghost Bike be installed in his memory. We are very sorry for their loss, and hope this memorial can help ease their pain.”
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. Ghost Bikes do not lay blame, nor do we assess fault when placing a bike. All road users need to pay attention to each other and share the road safely.
Background
- This is the first Ghost Bike installed by EBC in 2015, and 16th since the program began in 2007
- Information about Edmonton Ghost Bikes: http://edmontonbikes.ca/ghost-bikes
- Map of Edmonton Ghost Bikes installed since 2007: http://ghostbikes.org/ghostbikemap/Edmonton
- The first Ghost Bikes were created in St. Louis, Missouri in 2003
- There are now hundreds of Ghost Bikes across the world
- More information can be found at http://ghostbikes.org/ (note: site statistics haven’t been updated since 2012)
For contact info, please visit our contact page.