LA To Honor Fallen Cyclists With Roadside Memorials

LOS ANGELES, CA — They're a tragically common site across Southern California — the makeshift roadside memorial created by family members mourning the loss of loved ones killed in crashes. Now, the Los Angeles City Council will make the roadside memorials for cyclists official and permanent.

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved plans for a roadside memorial program Friday. It's proponents, hope it will honor those killed while raising awareness about the need to share the road.

Councilman Bob Blumenfield described the memorials, which often include a "ghost bike" placed at the site of fatal bicycle crashes.

"I've been to too many ghost bike memorials only to see them gone in a few days, as if nothing tragic happened," Blumenfield said. "Cyclists are dying on the streets of Los Angeles and creating a permanent memorial -- which will also serve as a reminder to share the road -- is needed."

Last year, Los Angeles lost 240 people in traffic crashes, and 21 of them were cyclists killed by cars, according Blumenfield's office.

For bicyclist fatalities, the memorials sign will include a safety message, a bike symbol and the name of the traffic victim. Signs may be placed at the request of, or with the consent of, an immediate family member, Blumenfield's office said.

Though the program is initially limited to bicyclist fatalities, the City Council also voted to explore the feasibility and cost of including in the program pedestrians and other related deaths. In recent years, the city has worked to reduce pedestrian and cyclist fatalities as well as an epidemic of hit-and-runs.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.