Wheels stolen from bike memorial honouring hit-and-run victim

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This article was published 14/08/2024 (394 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The wheels from a bike memorial created to pay tribute to a Winnipeg cyclist killed in a hit and run have been stolen.

Rob Jenner, 61, was riding to work as a shipper and receiver at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights the morning of June 6 when he was hit by a vehicle travelling in the same direction. During a memorial ride for Jenner last month, a group of cyclists rode to the scene of the collision — the corner of Wellington Crescent and Cockburn Street — to install the “ghost bike.”

The bike, painted white, belonged to Jenner’s wife Wendy Van Loon. In addition to serving as a tribute, organizers hoped the ghost bike would serve as a reminder to drivers to slow down and be cautious of cyclists, said bicycle advocate Patty Wiens.

“(It’s) disappointing for sure, but not surprising,” said Wiens. “We know how it goes here in the city with bikes. Bike parts are currency in some circles.”

Wiens, the “bicycle mayor” of Winnipeg, said she found out about the theft through a post on Bike Winnipeg’s Discord server. It’s believed the wheels were removed sometime after 11 p.m. Tuesday night. A member of the community rode by the memorial shortly before and it was intact then, Wiens said.

Members of the bike community are working to replace the parts and secure them in a way so they are less appealing to steal.

Wiens said she doesn’t really want the police to “take action” on the situation.

“There’s bigger fish to fry,” said Wiens. “As the community would say, it’s probably something that somebody needed and we’ll take care of putting something a little less desirable to replace it.”

Winnipeg Police Service Const. Dani McKinnon said as of Wednesday afternoon there had been no report of the theft.

Police announced the day after Jenner’s death that Beckham Keneth Severight, 19, was charged with dangerous driving causing death and leaving the scene of a collision.

jura.mcilraith@freepress.mb.ca