GAGE PARK, Chicago – On Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, community organizers on the Southwest Side will lead Dia de los Muertos‑themed bike rides to remember cyclists and neighbors who lost their lives in traffic crashes. The events blend Mexican tradition with a clear safety message: Chicago must invest in protected bike lanes, pedestrian islands, bumpouts and signage that protect all road users.
Honoring the Fallen
Gage Park Cyclists is hosting the first ride at 10 a.m. on Oct. 31. Riders will start at Senka Park and travel to a series of “ghost bikes” – white‑painted bicycles placed at crash sites – including memorials for 18‑year‑old Damian Gomez and city employee Riley O’Neil, both killed this year. Participants will carry candles and marigolds, the traditional Dia de los Muertos flowers, to each memorial, creating a moving tribute that says, “the fallen are not forgotten.”
Alfredo Valladares Jr., founder of Gage Park Cyclists, explained that the rides are both a cultural celebration and a safety rally. “Everyone deserves an equitable commute,” he said. “No mode of transport is more valuable than the next.”
Community‑Driven Ofrendas In Motion
The Little Village Environmental Justice Organization will host its inaugural “Ofrendas In Motion” ride on Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to noon. Cyclists will decorate their bikes with paper flowers and other tributes, turning each bicycle into a mobile ofrenda that carries the names of traffic‑victim victims. The ride will begin at La Villita Farm (2800 S. Sacramento St.) and follow 26th Street to Manuel Perez Jr. Plaza.
“Creating these mobile ofrendas on our bicycles, we’re honoring the people we’ve lost and reclaiming space to call for safer streets for all,” said Carolina Macias, senior mobility‑justice research organizer for the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization.
Why Safer Streets Matter
City data shows the Southwest Side’s major corridors are part of Chicago’s “high‑injury network,” a list of the 100 most dangerous miles of road. Pulaski, Kedzie, Cicero, Western and Ashland avenues, as well as West 26th and 47th streets, rank among these high‑risk routes. In Little Village alone, 201 people were seriously injured and 17 were killed in traffic crashes between 2020 and 2024. In Brighton Park, 57 percent of serious pedestrian and cyclist injuries occurred on Archer and Kedzie during a recent 12‑month period.
Organizers argue that protected bike lanes and other infrastructure upgrades can dramatically reduce these numbers. “We need infrastructure that can really create more protections for cyclists and pedestrians,” Macias said. “We want to change the narrative and show safe‑street projects are not a threat to local business – they add value and encourage families to bike and shop locally.”
Local Business Support
Along the 26th Street corridor, the Little Village Chamber of Commerce and nearby businesses will host Xempasuchil, a two‑day Dia de los Muertos celebration and business crawl. Organizers hope the event demonstrates that safety improvements can coexist with vibrant commerce, reinforcing the community’s commitment to both heritage and progress.
Neighbors who wish to suggest additional ghost‑bike sites or bring personal tributes are encouraged to contact the organizing groups ahead of the rides.
Call to Action for Officials
Both rides serve as a direct appeal to city and state leaders to allocate funding for street‑safety projects on the Southwest Side’s busiest corridors. By pairing cultural remembrance with a concrete policy request, organizers aim to turn grief into momentum for lasting change.
The rides are open to all residents, cyclists and supporters of safer streets. For more details, visit the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization’s website or contact Gage Park Cyclists.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
