Cycling community pays tribute Melanie Watts

Members of the local cycling community came out in their numbers on Sunday to pay tribute to the late Melanie Watts, who passed away in March following a road accident.

One of the larger cycling groups on the island, the Barbados Bike Hash Harriers, placed a bike memorial in remembrance of the young creative along Maxwell Main Road.

The ‘Ghost Bike’, first of its kind on the island, is placed strategically in the area, not only to inform passers-by of the fatal incident that occurred there, but also as a caution for motorists to be aware of cyclists as they traverse the island’s roadways.

Paying tribute to her daughter, Patricia Watts said it was her hope that Melanie’s death would serve as a reminder for all road users, to take their safety and others seriously, as they travel around the island.

“Out of Melanie’s death, [I hope] something good would come. That this will be a part of the road safety campaign to educate Barbadians and the motoring public that we all need to take care as we use the roads, and to understand that cyclists use the roads basically in the same way they do. They may not be as broad or thick, but they avoid potholes, they avoid rocks, so you have to give them that distance.

“Those people who drive heavy duty vehicles have to understand that as they drive at speed, the wind shear factor can offset cyclists and knock cyclists off their bicycles. So I hope that other families like the Moseley, the Alleyne family [and others], would not have to go through what we would have gone through.” (SB)