Cyclists joined in on the memorial ride
Cyclists from the community cycled for the safety of cyclists
The Pedal Power Association (PPA), in collaboration with New Horizons Cycling Club, organised a memorial ride on 28 July to honour the lives of those who have died while cycling on our roads.
Community cyclists, as well as the cyclists from the PPA and New Horizons, joined the memorial and protest ride, which started at 7am at the Terrazza Shopping Mall in Florida Glen.
The cyclists rode down Ontdekkers Road, to where Dr Willie Fourie had his fatal accident on 4 May. At the intersection of Ontdekkers and Mouton Roads, where the accident happened, a white bike was chained to the traffic light pole to honour his memory. The group stopped and gathered there for a ghost bike memorial ceremony.
During the opening speech by Ahmad Ali Banoo, from New Horizons Cycling Club, when he emphasised the urgency of cyclists’ safety and the tragedy and sadness caused by the lost cyclists lives, the friends and family of Dr Fourie mournfully held their heads high.
“Apart from paying tribute to those who have tragically lost their lives on the roads, we are calling on the authorities to take action in order to prevent further accidents from happening and to avoid any more fatalities. We will therefore be handing over a document to officials and setting up a ghost bike in memory of Dr Fourie and other cyclists who have tragically lost their lives,” said Robert Vogel, Chief Executive Officer of the PPA.
The New Horizons Cycling Club was started 14 years ago and prides itself on working towards a safer cycling environment. Ahmad Ali called on community cyclists to join the group and pedal for a community in which they will all feel safe again.
For any information about the group or to join them, contact Ahmad Ali at ahmad.banoo@gmail.com.
