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Members of the Kingston Velo Club have initiated an effort to replace the Ghost Bike on Bath Road near the entrance to Jim Snow Drive. The bike was placed there in 2018 and has fallen into disrepair. The bike remembers  Jeff Vervaeke —who died in a nearby crash in May 2018. Several cycling friends of Jeff from Oakville and Ottawa will be attending and riding as well. 

Here's what happened, according to Global News reporting:

On May 27, 2018, a group of four cyclists taking part in the "7 Days in May" charity bicycle tour (a roughly 1,200 km ride around Lake Ontario, raising funds for pancreatic cancer) was struck by a vehicle on Bath Road in Amherstview, west of Kingston, Ontario.

The riders had stopped to help a fellow cyclist who'd burst a tire and fallen — one was resting on the outside of the guardrail between Bath Road and Lake Ontario while the others waited on the inside when a vehicle allegedly lost control and hit three of the cyclists.

Jeff Vervaeke, described as "a father, a son, a friend, a mentor," died in hospital about a week later. OPP charged a 51-year-old Kingston man, Robert Saunders, with two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm.

KVC member Doug Kennedy has ridden with the 7 Days group on 3 separate occasions since the accident to support and maintain a Kingston connection to the group,

Many thanks to Yellow Bike Action, Mike and Dave for supplying and preparing the replacement bike.

A ride of approximately 40 km will follow with a coffee stop in Bath at The Lodge. See route link above.

Meet in front of the Gazebo at Finkles Shore park at 1 pm. We will Ride to the Ghost Bike site, Friends of Jeff's will unlock the current bike, replace with the new one,  then we'll ride following the route above ending in Bath for coffee. There are shortcuts on the route for those wishing a shorter ride.

Rider Responsibilities:

 

What to bring

• Copy of the route (digital or print)

• Cell phone (with "what3words" app)

• Front and rear lights

• Spare tube, pump and tool kit

• Sufficient hydration and nutrition

• Health card, document with your address and emergency contact info

How to ride

• Communicate all movements, speed changes, and obstacles

• Only pass on the left

• Don’t overlap wheels

• Obey all traffic laws

See additional guidelines in "Safety Matters" menu above.