Montreal's original 'ghost bike' removed as dangerous stretch of Saint-Denis made safer

Montreal's first ever "ghost bike," make-shift memorials for cyclists killed in traffic accidents, was removed during a ceremony Sunday morning.

The bike painted entirely in white was installed May 5, 2014 to commemorate Mathilde Blais, a 33-year-old cyclist who died in a collision with a transport truck in the Saint-Denis Street underpass near Rosemont Avenue.

Vlo Fantme(Ghost Bike Montreal), an advocacy group for cyclists, has since made it common practice in Montreal to mark the spot of fatal accidents with a white bike. There are 10 others in and around the city.

The ghost bike marking Blais's death will eventually be displayed at a museum in Quebec City, the Musede la civilisation de Qubec. A plaque will take its place near theSaint-Denis Street underpass.

Blais's death spurred calls for the city to make the narrow underpass safer for cyclists. The city eventually built a dedicated bike lane separated by a cement barrier, part of the recently completed Rseau Express Vlo onSaint-Denis.

Blais's mother, Genevive Laborde, was the one who suggested the bike be displayed in a museum. "I never considered that bike mine. I consider it a symbol," she said.

Laborde added: "It's hard to be here today, but I'm proud to be here because it signals progress."

Severine Le Page, a spokesperson for Vlo Fantme, said the ghost bike campaign pressured the city to act.

"I think it has a big role to play because it's visual," Le Page said of the haunting white bikes.

"We see them all over the city [now], unfortunately. Seeing a ghost bike reminds you that this is a conversation we need to keep having with our city and with all levels of government."

Montreal Mayor Valrie Plante and federal Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault attended Sunday's ceremony.

Plante said there have been 300 significant collisions between cars, pedestrians and cyclists on Saint-Denis Street since 2014.

"Let's stop fighting about who the road belongs to. It belongs to everyone, but we need safety measures to protect the most vulnerable and the most vulnerable are pedestrians and cyclists," she said.