Memorial Ride for a 24-year-old Cyclist on Bloor

Unfortunately, Toronto’s cycling community had to gather tonight for the fifth time this year to pay their respects for a fallen cyclist. The latest victim was a 24-year-old female who was struck and killed on Bloor Street east of Avenue Road. While I wrote about the initial death and how to address some of the design fails at this site and others across the city, it was essential to write about tonight’s memorial ride.

By the time Helen, Mozzie, and I got to Matt Cohen Park, the park and sidewalk was already packed with people.

Another shot from the back of the park to show how many people were there.

Before the ride began, a huge downpour fell upon those who gathered.

Michael Longfield of Cycle Toronto and Dave Shellnutt (pictured below) spoke before the ride, but I couldn’t make out anything being a distance away and the phone wasn’t waterproof to allow me to get closer.

The ghost bike and banner wait to perform their latest tour of duty.

Poor Mozzie wasn’t amused with the downpour.

With the rain starting to subside, people started to make their way on Bloor.

A view towards the front.

Here’s a better photo just before we rolled slowly towards the crash site to give you an idea of how many people showed up. Definitely in the hundreds.

Approaching the Bloor and Avenue intersection.

Some family and friends were already gathered at a crash site which already had flowers. However, the ghost bike ended up being placed in front of the Church of the Redeemer, so I asked the crowd to come towards the church.

The Bloor and Avenue intersection was packed with cyclists.

Dave Shellnutt spoke at the church calling for a Montréal style mobility squad and pleaded for “not one more” cyclist to be killed on Toronto’s streets.

A first moment of silence was held at Bloor and Avenue to honour several fallen cyclists including Darcy Allan Sheppard (2009 east of the intersection), Dalia Chako (2018 at Bloor and St. George), Miguel Joshua Escanan (2021), and Ali Sezgan Armagan (April 2024 just north of the intersection).

Geoffrey bringing the bike in front of the church.

The ghost bike being put in place.

The banner makes its appearance known.

I took a couple of photos from the top of the church steps to show you how big the crowd was.

A panorama attempt.

Joey getting people to start another minute of silence. He said last week’s crash should never have happened given it was in a protected bike lane.

The second minute of silence under way.

Elizabeth Glor-Bell and others decorating the ghost bike with flowers.

Another look at the crash site which had flowers in place.

Mozzie was well behaved during the ride in his Mozzmobile. 😊

One last look at the ghost bike site before Helen, Mozzie, and I dispersed.

Brian Tao was able to get a great photo of family and friends of the fallen cyclist with the ghost bike.

About six hundred people took part in the ride per this CBC article.

Thanks to Geoffrey and Joey of ARC for organizing tonight’s ride, as well as to all the cyclists – including MPP Jessica Bell – for paying their respects. We need to keep City Council’s feet to the fire in order to make our streets safe. After all, you never ride alone.

Here are a couple of additional tweets about tonight’s ride for your viewing pleasure.

Won’t be silenced.
Ghost bike ride in Toronto tonight for a 24 year old who was killed by a driver. pic.twitter.com/6l9DXto9Fp

— Tom Flood (@tomflood1) July 31, 2024

Ghost ride protest for cyclist killed last week at Bloor and Avenue #toronto #biketo pic.twitter.com/rq8W7bj9Nn

— Lorenzo G. (@lorenzojuniah) July 31, 2024

In a sign Mayor Olivia Chow does take road safety seriously, she was spotted at tonight's ride per this Reddit post by kmosdell. The Toronto Star also reported on Chow's attendance who mentioned the upcoming increase in fines for blocking bike lanes (to $200 as of tomorrow), as well as plans to add more traffic cameras to capture plates of bike lane blockers and - for music to everyone's ears - plans for a mobility squad.