Last weekend, a group of cycling advocates installed a memorial for a cyclist who was killed in a collision with a semi-truck.

Ernie Gabbs, a 69-year-old Kelowna resident, died at the intersection of Dillworth Drive and Harvey Avenue on Aug. 12, while riding his hand-cycle, a modified cycle for those who have lost the use of their legs.

Members of the Kelowna Area Cycling Coalition, a cycling advocacy and education group that has been around in Kelowna since the late 90s, set up the memorial on Aug. 18. Gabbs香蕉视频直播� ghost bike marks the group香蕉视频直播檚 fifth since it started placing them in 2015.

香蕉视频直播淲e take a bike that has lived out its life and we paint it all white. We then install it at the location where the person lost their life in a way to be visible as a memorial to try and bring awareness to what香蕉视频直播檚 happening on the road,香蕉视频直播� said Landon Bradshaw, former president and current member of the coalition.

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Bradshaw, a stranger to Gabbs, recalls Gabbs riding past him earlier that morning.

香蕉视频直播淗e had just ridden by me about an hour and a half before (the collision) happened,香蕉视频直播� said Bradshaw.

Gabbs lost the use of his legs in a workplace accident in 1992. The bike he was riding was a bike he香蕉视频直播檇 had for over 20 years, the first hand-cycle he bought after his accident.

At the installation of the memorial on Sunday, the same day as Gabbs香蕉视频直播� funeral, Bradshaw said there were around 100 people there, including Gabbs香蕉视频直播� friends and family.

Bradshaw said as he was bringing the bike to the memorial location on a cargo trailer attached to his bike he was met by 30-40 cyclists who met up and rode with him.

香蕉视频直播淚 was in front with the ghost bike and it was really moving to see the number of people in the parking lot waiting for us to arrive,香蕉视频直播� said Bradshaw.

香蕉视频直播淎 lot of times we香蕉视频直播檒l have just a few people show up; never more than 10.

香蕉视频直播淗is widow thanked me for putting this together so she feels like she has someplace to come and be a bit closer to him.香蕉视频直播�

One of Gabbs香蕉视频直播� family members donated a wheel from the bike he was riding that day, which is also now part of the memorial.

Bradshaw shared some advice for motorists to be more cautious of cyclists on the roadway.

香蕉视频直播淥ne of the tricks that I香蕉视频直播檝e learned香蕉视频直播攁nd passed on to my daughter香蕉视频直播攊s counting the cyclists that you come across,香蕉视频直播� said Bradshaw.

香蕉视频直播淲hen you begin looking for cyclists you start seeing them.香蕉视频直播�

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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