Memorial for murdered cyclist
PRESS RELEASE: Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists (ARC) announces a MEMORIAL to be held for the latest cyclist casualty on the streets of Toronto: Cyclist murdered Tuesday August 11, 2009, at the **corner of Finch Ave and Martin Grove Rd.
DATE: August 18. Meet at Bloor and Spadina, 5:30 pm for a group bicycle ride, or 7:30 pm at the murder site**.
Bring flowers.
CONTACT: Jacob Allderdice, 416.604.5171.
ARC STATEMENT: A couple years ago, a disproportionate number of Torontonians were killed or injured in gunfire, and the media were all over it. “The Year of the Gun,” they called it. And indeed the destruction was wanton and horrifying. At the same time, however, some observed that death on the roads from car crashes, including a large number of pedestrians and cyclists killed by car, went unheralded even while this number was four times higher than that of people killed by gunfire.
This year, the media have taken up the concept of a “War on the Car,” as if this inanimate object that so limits our transportation choice in the city of Toronto should be the subject of humanitarian aid. Meanwhile, the death and injury from gunfire and from car crashes both have been the locus of the real “war” on Toronto’s streets: a war that is killing real human beings.
There are actual cases where “vehicular homicide” is planned and carried out, with the guilty party receiving only a minor penalty, if at all, for their “accident.” Occasionally the car and the gun converge, with the homicide clearly intentional but no less horrifying than when it is done using the vehicle alone.
One such case was this past Tuesday, August 11, when Tevane Sean Lennon, 22, a cyclist, returning to his family home from a grocery shopping trip, was fired upon from the window of an automobile and killed.
Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists stands up whenever a cyclist is killed on the streets of Toronto. We pay our respects to the fallen for we know we could be him or her. We understand the danger that goes with the joy of riding a bicycle, and we work toward making the city a safer place for all cyclists, at all times and in all neighbourhoods.
In this strange convergence of the car and the gun as the source of danger to our fellow cyclist, we ask how strange is it, really? The car, like the gun, represents power, a machine purchased toward the end of enabling weak, dumb humans to rise above their station at the expense of the environment, including the lives of other human beings. A cyclist has made a choice of human-ness in the face of dumb power, and as such is vulnerable to the expression of dumb power. We speak of “gunning the engine,” and the cowardice implicit in the gunning down of this man is a demonstration of a power relationship, just as much as if he had been driven into and run over.
No one deserves to be killed on the streets of Toronto, whether by gun or by automobile. We will ride to the site of the murder and hold a moment of silence in memory of the victim, in solidarity with his family and friends and in hope that justice will be served.
Dear ARC,
I realize he was cycling at the time, but is there any suggestion that this murder was in any way related to his being on a bike? Would he, for instance, have been safer had he been walking or driving a car? It's possible that the shots were fired in a horrific act of road rage, but we really have no idea at this point, do we?
Yes, it's important to acknowledge the tragedy of any death and to draw attention to the danger faced by cyclists because of aggressive drivers and poor city infrastructure, but I hope you aren't misusing this tragedy for political purposes. That wouldn't honour his memory, but cheapen it into a sad PR stunt.
Have you spoken with his family? Are they in favour of this memorial? I hope so. Either way, thanks for all your work with cycling advocacy in Toronto.
Sincerely,
Concerned Cyclist
No position is taken other than respect for a human life. The complex issues surrounding this murder are for the courts to sort out. That said, for over ten years and 40 plus memorials we have stood in unity with anyone who was riding a bike at the time of their demise. We do not judge their character or judge if they were deserving of their fate.
As for a PR stunt, that are a lot easier ways to get attention. Memorials are way too sad.
I posted this to the forums a while ago, but nobody seemed to want to talk about it.
Maybe I know why now - everybody just assumed something about the victim. Maybe because of the community he was shot in? Maybe something a little more sinister?
That or my posts are old news...
Concerned Cyclist, does it matter if it was "road rage" or just rage? Either way a cyclist was murdered - one from our community. If you want to split moral hairs(was he a good or bad person) go right ahead and try. I doubt you'll find much success with it.
I rode to work today. I began on the bike lane on Birmingham Ave. At Kipling a truck was parked in the lane. I went around and continued.
At 5th Ave. a Staples truck was parked in the lane with its hazards on. Obviously taking supplies to LAMP. Across the street is the new police training college. Four officers were sitting outside having a coffee. Cycling is treated with so little respect by the police that someone can park illegally in front of the facility training Toronto police officers and suffer no consequences. It was the perfect symbol of police attitude to cycling.
I then got on Lakeshore. Of course the usual illegal parking in front of the Polish embassy and a postal truck in the bike lane at 2255 Lakeshore.
Next the Humber bike trail. A garbage trcuk was parked across the lane. Cyclists, dogwalkers and roller bladers having to go on the grass because the garbage truck was blocking the lane.
Next the Martin Goodman Trail. The usual cars at the Boulevard Club. A big sign that the bike lane will be closed at Marilyn Bell Park from August 19-September 9. The park is nearly ready to be a parking lot for the Ex. Port a potty's in place, the first of the machines to buy the parking tickets about to be installed. Park=Parking.
Finally, the new Ontario Place $10 million dollar bike path. It did everything it was supposed to do. It makes it easier for car parking for Ontario Place. Easy access for employee parking lot. Can close off the old route and get bicyclists away from people walking to pay their admission. They can check off all the right boxes and say how bike friendly they are. Too bad its not great for riders. Three dangerous road crossings. Somebody is going to get seriously hurt. Gates are too narrow at road crossings. Not enough room to go through the gates. A roller blader going east and a cyclist going west can't fit through at the same time. I have already seen it causing jams.
Finally, I caught the light on time at Lakeshore and Strachan and got across. The only problem is it leaves me stranded on a sidewalk having to break the law to get to the north bound bike lane on Strahan to continue my ride. Still better than going south on Fort York Blvd. to get on the bike route when I go home. You have to cross the street, walk across the Lakeshore in the way of everyone turning left to follow the law.
In all, I follow designated bike routes almost the entire way to work. Alot of thought, planning and money have gone into my route. It just doesn't work that well. Something is wrong.