Michelle Butt and her family were still in their pyjamas Friday morning when a friend sent them a text to tell them a white bicycle had appeared at her son DanielB次元官网网址檚 memorial sometime overnight.
Daniel died while cycling at the corner of 10th Avenue and Dunbar Street in early November, and a makeshift memorial from some of his friends is visible beneath a light pole on the corner. The bicycle has been chained to the pole.
The family shared a private moment as they gazed at the bicycle and read the attached explanation of what it symbolizes.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 beautiful,B次元官网网址� Michelle said Friday afternoon.
B次元官网网址淔or some people itB次元官网网址檚 a constant reminder about a tragedy that happened. In some sense itB次元官网网址檚 also a reminder of our precious boy and his passion.B次元官网网址�
The bicycle is one of two that were put up on 10th Avenue late Thursday night, Dec. 13. The second one is at the corner of 10th and Redford Street, where Nikita Hedingham died while on her bike a year ago.
The bikes are part of a program called B次元官网网址済host bikesB次元官网网址�. They are painted white and placed at the site where a person riding a bicycle has died. The two in Port Alberni were donated, painted and put up by members of Cycle Alberni.
B次元官网网址淭he 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,B次元官网网址� said John Mayba of Cycle Alberni. B次元官网网址淲e felt it was something we needed to do to recognize the tragic situations, and do our part to memorialize them.
B次元官网网址淩iderless bikes do not lay blame or place fault,B次元官网网址� he emphasized. B次元官网网址淔or those who create and install the memorials, the death of a fellow cyclist hits home. We all travel the same streets and face the same risks, and realize it could just as easily be any one of us.
B次元官网网址淒rivers are affected just as much as everybody else by this.B次元官网网址�
The first riderless bikes appeared in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2003, and have spread to 210 locations throughout the world. There are more than 630 white bicycles erected in places where cyclists have died. The program is called B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址�, but Cycle Alberni decided to refer to its bicycle memorials as B次元官网网址渞iderlessB次元官网网址� instead of B次元官网网址済hostB次元官网网址�.
B次元官网网址淲e chose to call them riderless bikes; we feel itB次元官网网址檚 a gentler reference,B次元官网网址� Mayba said. B次元官网网址淚t is a memorial to these kids and something that tries to make people aware of the fact that being on roads, whether day or night is a pretty dangerous thing; and for us to be more cautious.B次元官网网址�
Daniel and Nikita, both teenagers, both used their bicycles for transportation. Daniel also had a passion for cycling, and rode his bike for pleasure as well.
B次元官网网址�(Daniel) was probably two when he got on his first bike with training wheels,B次元官网网址� Michelle Butt said. He did a lot of trail riding as well as using his bicycle to get around. His passion was such that he owned three different bike helmets meant for different purposes, they were fitted to his head and he was diligent about wearing his helmet everytime he rode.
B次元官网网址淗e loved the trails. He used to ride Maquinna Trails. He rode a lot. He would ride the Lookout. He would come home from school and would jump on his bike and ride down to Harbour Quay,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淭hat was something he did every day. He just loved to hang out, loved the atmosphere down there. He loved to ride.B次元官网网址�
