A white bike now stands at the intersection of Quadra Street and Greenridge Crescent — a solemn reminder of the tragedy that unfolded there on July 28.
A white bike at the intersection of Quadra and the Greenridge Crescent.
It’s a reminder of what happened here on July 28th.
Dr. Sylvie Argouarch’s partner of 28 years, Hugh Aitken, walks over to the bike, seeing it for the first time.
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“It’s hard to describe. I haven’t been to this intersection in over three months. But I recognize the sentiment that someone has chosen to express. It’s something I’ve seen in other parts of the world.”
Argouarch, died when the driver of a pickup truck drove into her as she rode her bike in this marked crosswalk.
“She was on her way to Broadmead care facility a few kilometres north here. She did this every Monday. She was an avid cyclist and cycled to all the care facilities around Victoria by bicycle,” Aitken said.
Some time over the last few days, someone installed this white bike, known as a “ghost bike” roadside memorial – it serves as a tribute to the victim, and a warning to motorists to drive more carefully.
A few have been installed on the island, but this is the first in Saanich.
And it’s a reason to take much more care, according to Dean Murdock, mayor of Saanich.
“This was a fatality I think will resonate with our community for a long time. And I think the importance of a roadside reminder is telling the story of that person. And the significance it means to our community and as a society that we need to keep each other safe,” Murdock said.
Dr. Arthur Jipson, professor of sociology, University of Dayton, researches roadside memorials such as ghost bikes. He said they not only honour the dead, but they are catalysts for change.
“They serve as public reminders of the risk for other bike riders. So the idea that the roads are vulnerable. And certain users of the road are more vulnerable than others,” Jipson said.
Saanich residents say they don’t want to see more ghost bikes because of the tragedies they represent.
Jordan Pollard said she understands the sentiment.
“I think it’s a very beautiful gesture. I think it’s very kind for the families, and all involved.”
Caetano Dorea said he thought the ghost bikes were a sad reminder that it can be dangerous to be an active commuter.
“I commute actively to work almost every day. And it’s more often than not do I think about is this the day something is going to happen? There are a lot of near misses.”
Aitken doesn’t know who placed the ghost bike, but it’s a reminder of who and what was lost.
“She touched a lot of people very deeply. She was a real people person. And she connected with people,” Aitken said.
Dr. Sylvie Argouarch left behind her family, and a wide circle of friends, and colleagues in her 50 year medical career.