City council has given the rubber stamp to a six month limit on ghost bikes and other roadside memorials in Ottawa. The decision was finalized during Thursday morning’s city council meeting. Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney was the lone councillor to oppose the motion that passed without debate.
Last week, city staff recommended a three month time limit for roadside memorials at the transportation committee meeting. Capital Coun. David Chernushenko proposed to increase the time limit to six months. McKenney preferred to see it extended to one year.
Today’s approved motion also included two other amendments to the Roadside Memorials Policy. Memorials have to be arranged to occupy as little of the sidewalk as possible, and all elements of the memorials must also be secured together to a fixed object such as a pole, or a barrier.
Ghost bikes are painted bicycles being used as roadside memorials. In recent years, cyclists killed while riding on Ottawa streets have been commemorated with ghost bikes throughout the city.