Ghost Bike calls attention to need for safety

On Sunday, May 19, a Ghost Bike gathering took place at Hochscheit Park in Aurora to commemorate a Waubonsee High School student struck and killed in the crosswalk at Ogden and Montgomery.

A Ghost Bike is a bicycle painted completely white. It is placed where a cyclist was killed to remind motorists, cyclists and walkers of the hazards of traffic.

There are dozens of Ghost Bikes in the city of Chicago and thousands throughout the U.S. and around the world.

This gathering included a welcome by the mother of a high school student who knew the victim. She described the reaction of her son and his friends upon hearing the news of the death of their friend and classmate. Naperville Police Department Cadets also shared memories of the fallen cyclist

The Executive Director of Ride Illinois spoke about the hazards of vehicles to walkers and riders. The Naperville bike club rode to the gathering as a group in a “Ride of Silence.” Family and friends of the cyclist were also present.

Due to IDOT regulations, we could not place the Ghost Bike where the incident occurred. It is on Montgomery Road near the crossing of the Waubonsie Creek Trail.

We would like to recognize many of the people who made the gathering possible. Alderwoman Patty Smith and Alderman John Laesch. Members of the Aurora Police Department and the City Events Planning group. Officers and leaders of Naperville Police Department for their support through Aurora counterparts as well as the NPD Police Cadets.

The Ghost Bike gathering is not the end of the story.

The most important work is to continue to improve the engineering of intersections, enforcement of traffic laws for everyone, as well as behavior and attitude changes of motorists, walkers and cyclists.

Jillian Plowcamp

Aurora