A Mothers Tears

Monique’s family adorning Monique’s ghost bike with flowers.

There is nothing more heartbreaking than hearing a mother mourn the loss of her child. Each tear she sheds is an echo of unspeakable grief, and a solemn reminder of why we ride.

Monique Massey was killed in a hit-and-run while riding her bicycle on March 23, 2016, at 2900 Leon C. Simon.

This morning, as core organizer of Critical Mass NOLA, I had the honor of reinstalling a ghost bike in her memory alongside Ghost Bikes NOLA.

Traffic deaths in New Orleans are not accidents—they are the predictable result of infrastructure built to prioritize speeding cars over safety. We demand a radical transformation of our streets—streets that protect pedestrians, transit riders, bicyclists, and motorist alike.

As long as cars are given free rein to speed through our city and theirs no protected bike lanes, more of our neighbors, friends, and loved ones will fall victim to this ongoing violence.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Let us ride, advocate, and organize to see it change.

Monique—For you we ride…

—Eric Gabourel