The Austin Ghost Bike Project remembers cyclists killed in accidents

AUSTIN (KXAN) — White bikes stand at intersections and streets across Austin, memorials honoring cyclists killed in traffic accidents. It’s part of the Austin Ghost Bike Project’s ongoing mission to raise public awareness of the number of cyclists killed while the organization advocates for improved safety infrastructure for cyclists.

“Our goal is really to bring attention to and prevent so many unnecessary deaths, crashes and accidents in our city,” said Rhodney Williams of the Austin Ghost Bike Project.

On May 15, organizers, local cyclists and relatives of those killed will gather at Austin City Hall at 7 p.m. for the Ride of Silence, a silent, all-level memorial ride to honor those injured or killed while biking on the streets of Austin. Participants are asked to wear white clothing, bring a helmet and not talk or listen to music during the event.

It is a decades-old event that began in Dallas and has since expanded worldwide. Last year, memorial rides were held at more than 200 locations in 40 states and 16 countries, according to Ride of Silence.

“We’ll pass two or three ghost bikes on our way just to hopefully attract attention,” Williams said.

Cyclist safety is an issue monitored by the City of Austin’s Vision Zero program. Vision Zero data found the following number of cyclist deaths since 2020:

• 2020: 4 cyclist deaths
• 2021: 3 cyclist deaths
• 2022: 1 cyclist fatality
• 2023: 6 cyclist deaths
• 2024 YTD: 0 deaths

The data set also monitors how many cyclists were seriously injured in traffic accidents:

• 2020: 22 cyclists seriously injured
• 2021: 26 cyclists seriously injured
• 2022: 28 cyclists seriously injured
• 2023: 24 cyclists seriously injured
• 2024 YTD: 13 cyclists seriously injured

The Austin Ghost Bike Project has tracked dozens of cyclist deaths in the Central Texas region and is expanding its ghost bike network. KXAN spoke with Williams on Wednesday in front of the memorial bike for Merry “Cookie” Daye, who died in a hit-and-run accident in December 2019.

Many of those killed remembered by the Austin Ghost Bike Project died in similar hit-and-run incidents, with several of those cases remaining unsolved, Williams said. To make matters worse, the organization has seen an increase in the number of vandalized and stolen bikes, with Williams highlighting damage to Daye’s memorial along Cameron Road.

“It’s a memorial,” Williams said. “Someone died here.”

Williams said that as part of their year-round work, organizers are calling for better infrastructure throughout the city through the installation of flexible posts, concrete curbs and buttons, and planters. These — coupled with stricter enforcement of traffic violations involving cyclists — could help minimize the number of cyclists injured on Austin roads, he said.

“I think people just need to feel like it’s safer for them to be out on the streets,” he said. “With the Ghost Bike Project we want more people to ride for a variety of reasons and we want people to be safe.”

Further details about Wednesday’s event can be found online.