Memorial and vigil rides serve a profound dual purpose: honoring those who have lost their lives in traffic incidents while raising critical awareness about cyclist safety. These rides create space for collective grief, commemorate victims, and transform personal tragedy into powerful advocacy for safer streets. Whether you're organizing in response to a recent tragedy or planning an annual remembrance, this guide will help you create a dignified, impactful event that respects the wishes of those most affected while advancing the cause of road safety.
This guide is part of our community cycling resources. For general community ride organization, see our Community Ride Planning Guide. For Critical Mass events, see Critical Mass Guide. For tips on ride support, see Ride Leadership Guide. For advice on helping cyclists respectfully ride, see Road Share Philosophy.
¶ The Purpose and Impact of Memorial Rides
Memorial rides combine mourning with meaning, creating visible tributes that serve several important functions:
- Honoring victims with dignity and respect
- Supporting grieving families and friends through community presence
- Raising public awareness about vulnerable road user safety
- Advocating for infrastructure improvements and policy changes
- Building solidarity within the cycling community
- Creating visible symbols (ghost bikes, roadside memorials) that serve as lasting reminders
These rides often attract media attention, helping to humanize statistics and spotlight the real human cost of unsafe streets. When organized with sensitivity and purpose, they can catalyze meaningful change in public perception and policy.
¶ Steps to Planning a Respectful and Impactful Memorial Ride
¶ 1. Center the Wishes of Family and Close Friends
- Always seek permission first: Contact the victim's family through appropriate channels (mutual friends, support groups, or the bike shop/community they were connected to)
- Honor their preferences regarding timing, route, publicity, and messaging
- If the family wishes to participate, offer them a prominent position in the ride
- If the family prefers privacy, consider an advocacy ride that doesn't name the victim
- Be prepared to postpone or modify plans based on family feedback
- Designate a single, compassionate contact person for all family communication
Our Family Contact Script offers advice for reaching out to families.
- Core organizers: 3-5 people to make key decisions and coordinate logistics
- Family liaison: A compassionate person to maintain communication with the victim's loved ones
- Media coordinator: To manage press releases and interview requests
- Route planner: To design an appropriate and safe ride path
- Ghost bike coordinator (if applicable): To prepare and install the memorial
- Ride marshals: To ensure safety during the event. See our Ride Leadership Guide.
- Speaker coordinator: To organize remarks at gathering points
- Social media manager: To handle announcements and documentation
One person may fill several of these roles. This is just a guide to help better understand the tasks and responsibilities of a Memorial ride.
- Start or end at the crash site when appropriate and safe to do so
- Keep the route accessible and manageable (typically 3-10 miles)
- Plan for moments of silence, readings, or ceremonies at significant locations
- Consider whether to ride in silence (all or part of the route)
- Determine if the ride will be a slow, solemn procession or regular pace
- Identify safe gathering locations for opening and closing ceremonies
- Plan traffic control at the crash site if participants will be gathering there
- Consider accessibility for non-cyclists who may wish to participate, especially family members
- Request police escort or traffic control if appropriate
- Invite supportive elected officials to participate or speak
- Obtain permission for permanent installation if possible
- Prepare the ghost bike thoughtfully:
- Use a donated bike of appropriate size
- Clean thoroughly and paint entirely white
- Secure all components and remove easily removable parts
- Attach a weatherproof plaque with the victim's name and date (if family approves)
- Scout the installation location in advance
- Bring necessary tools and materials for secure installation
- Check local regulations regarding roadside memorials
- Even if you cannot secure permission from local authorities, it is generally a good idea to install a temporary memorial regardless if it will be removed.
For more information, view our Ghost Bike Guide
- Printed photographs (with family permission)
- Armbands, ribbons, or flowers for participants
- Laminated remembrance cards
- Banner with safety message or tribute
- Set Clear Advocacy Goals in your messaging. Your goal can and will shift through the process, but try to start with a specific request for change to help galvanize and coalesce around.
- Identify specific infrastructure improvements (e.g., protected bike lanes, traffic calming measures) or policy changes (e.g., Complete Streets initiatives) that the event aims to promote.
- Highlight Community Impact: Emphasize how the proposed changes will enhance safety and quality of life for all community members, not just cyclists.
- Create clear, compassionate messaging that balances grief with advocacy
- Prepare a simple press release with:
- Basic details about the victim (with family approval)
- Information about the incident
- Details about the memorial ride
- Broader context about cyclist safety
- Specific policy or infrastructure changes being advocated
- Use Relatable Language: Opt for terms like "safe streets" and "family-friendly routes" to make the message more accessible and resonate with a broader audience.
- Designate articulate spokespeople who understand the messaging goals
- Create shareable graphics for social media that are dignified and informative
- Consider whether and how to document the event (photography/video)
- Use appropriate, respectful language in all announcements
- Be clear about the event's purpose and tone
- Provide specific information about start time, location, and expected duration
- Explain any special elements (moment of silence, ghost bike dedication)
- Encourage wearing specific colors if requested by the family
- Specify whether the event is open to all or limited to certain participants
- Share behavioral expectations (solemnity, traffic law compliance)
- Use existing cycling community channels for outreach
- Recognize that participants may be processing grief and trauma
- Identify mental health professionals willing to attend
- Provide information about grief resources and support groups
- Brief ride leaders on how to recognize and respond to emotional distress
- Encourage buddy systems so no one rides alone
- Set up any memorial elements in advance
- Have a pre-ride gathering to explain the format and expectations
- Review the route and any special moments or protocols
- Explain communication systems for ride marshals
- Assign experienced cyclists to ride alongside those who are visibly distressed
- Have water and simple first aid supplies available
- Distribute printed cards with safety resources and advocacy information
- Consider weather contingencies (umbrellas, rain plans)
¶ 9. Conduct the Ride with Dignity and Purpose
- Begin with a brief, meaningful ceremony
- If the family is present, give them prominence or privacy as needed
- Keep speeches brief and focused
- Allow moments of silence for reflection
- Proceed at a pace that maintains group cohesion
- Use ride marshals to ensure safety at intersections
- Document appropriately but respectfully (consider designated photographer)
- Conclude with clear next steps for advocacy or community support
¶ 10. Follow Up with Care and Purpose
- Send thank-you messages to all who helped coordinate
- Share appropriate photos and media coverage (with family approval)
- Provide updates on any ghost bike installation or permanent memorial
- Connect participants to ongoing advocacy efforts
- Update on any policy or infrastructure improvements being pursued
- Create opportunities for continued community support for the family
- Consider forming an ongoing safety advocacy group if none exists
- Plan annual remembrance rides if appropriate
¶ Initial Planning and Communication
- Respect cultural and religious traditions around mourning
- Offer to incorporate specific rituals or remembrances important to the family
- Be flexible about timing—some families may want immediate action while others need time
- Provide transportation options for family members who don't cycle
- Consider designating support people specifically for family members during the ride
- Prepare the family for media presence and help manage interview requests
- Create opportunities for private grief alongside public remembrance
- Research local regulations regarding roadside memorials
- Prepare the bike in a group setting as part of the healing process
- Consider durability and visibility in placement
- Secure the bike properly to prevent removal or vandalism
- Include weatherproof identification and message
- Develop a maintenance plan to keep the memorial dignified
- Document the location and add to ghost bike registries
- Consider creating a QR code link to safety information or the victim's story
- Prepare simple talking points focusing on the victim's life and safety advocacy
- Provide statistics on traffic safety in your area
- Highlight specific infrastructure or policy changes that could prevent similar tragedies
- Request that media coverage include bicycle safety information
- Ask reporters to avoid victim-blaming language
- Suggest visuals that humanize the victim and emphasize the community's response
- Be prepared for questions about controversial topics (helmet use, cyclist behavior)
- Express gratitude for coverage that furthers safety awareness
- "Ride of Silence" (May) connects local tragedies to national remembrance
- Consider creating a permanent calendar date for local remembrance
- Invite officials to report on safety improvements since previous rides
- Create traditions that can be maintained year after year
- Document changes and improvements that have resulted from advocacy
We offer a Calendar of important International and National Cycling Events for reference.
¶ Organizations and Support
¶ Sample Templates and Materials
To Do: Create sample press release, family contact script
Memorial and vigil rides transform tragedy into purpose. They allow communities to grieve together while demanding a world where such tragedies become increasingly rare. By honoring those we've lost with dignity and channeling our grief into action, we create lasting change that protects future riders.
Each memorial ride serves as both a solemn remembrance and a powerful statement that every life lost on our streets matters and that we are committed to creating streets where all can travel safely, regardless of how they choose to move through our communities.