‘Ghost bike’ memorial for Leeds cyclist

Andrew Wilsea, 41, was fatally injured in a collision with a Rover 45 on the A62 Gelderd Road at Gildersome, just after 6.30pm on August 18.

Leeds Cycling Campaign has organised a remembrance ride from Leeds city centre to the spot on Gelderd Road where the crash happened.

Members of the group, which campaigns to make Leeds a better place for cycling, were due place a white ‘ghost bike’ at the scene as a roadside memorial to Mr Wilsea.

Cyclists were being invited to gather in City Square from 5.30pm on Friday September 18 to listen to short speeches from the Leeds Cycling Campaign ahead of the remembrance ride.

Grace Gartside, Mr Wilsea’s partner of 15-years, said she planned to be at the event, adding: “I think it is a good idea to raise awareness of the fact that these things do happen and are forgotten about too quickly. I am going to show my support for what they are doing.” Miss Gartside said Mr Wilsea had cycled from Hunslet to Gildersome and back to work for nine years.

Martin Stanley, 30, of Pudsey, is chairman of the Leeds Cycling Campaign, which lobbies and works with Leeds City Council to improve cycling provision in the city. Mr Stanley said: “Several people involved in the campaign have been involved in near misses. Unfortunately on our roads at the moment death and serious injury is almost accepted. It happens, appears in the newspapers and nothing really happens.”

A 29-year-old arrested on suspicion of causing Mr Wilsea’s death by dangerous driving is currently on bail.