The family of an 11-year-old boy killed while riding his bicycle in Quebec City has been forced to postpone a planned memorial service after receiving a wave of hostile and hateful messages from local residents and motorists.
The grieving family had scheduled an event to install a “ghost bike”-a painted white bicycle serving as a roadside memorial-at the site of the fatal crash in Quebec City’s Beauport borough. The tribute was intended to honor young Alex Côté and raise public awareness regarding road safety and vulnerable pedestrians. However, organizers ultimately withdrew the plan, citing concerns that the gathering would turn into an avoidable source of conflict.
Tragic Incident and Immediate Aftermath
According to reports from CBC News and road.cc, the tragedy occurred in late June when Alex Côté was struck by a hit-and-run driver near the intersection of des Sablonnières Avenue and Raymond Boulevard. Emergency response crews located the child in cardiac arrest and rushed him to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
A 76-year-old woman allegedly fled the scene of the collision and was subsequently arrested by law enforcement authorities. The fatal crash immediately renewed urgent calls from local residents, community members, and road safety advocates demanding better traffic calming and physical protections for children, cyclists, and pedestrians navigating the residential neighborhood.
Backlash Over Traffic Measures and Memorial Plans
The local municipality recently began installing 13 new speed bumps near the location of the fatal collision-infrastructure enhancements that had actually been planned months prior to Alex’s death. Unfortunately, the arrival of these traffic-calming measures sparked anger on social media among local drivers, who misdirected their frustrations toward the Côté family and their ghost bike initiative.
Mathieu Murphy-Perron, a representative for Souliers et vélos fantômes Québec-an organization that assists families in setting up ghost bike memorials-described the online vitriol directed at the family as wildly inappropriate. Speaking to local media, Murphy-Perron noted that some residents baselessly complained the memorial would create safety hazards by encouraging pedestrian foot traffic across the road.
“Faced with certain reactions from citizens and after receiving hateful messages, we have chosen to take a step back,” Alex’s father posted in a public statement. “We want to ensure this moment remains a positive and respectful gathering and not a source of division.”
Political Condemnation and Broader Safety Debates
The aggressive backlash prompted swift reactions from local civic leaders. Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand voiced profound outrage over the incident, criticizing individuals who opted to hurl insults instead of offering basic human compassion to a bereaved family.
City councillor Mélanie Sauvage also stepped forward to appeal for community coexistence, noting that the family canceled the event specifically to prevent the situation from escalating further. Advocacy groups continue to emphasize that residential streets across the province remain disproportionately designed around automobile convenience rather than shared, multi-modal safety, leaving vulnerable road users exposed to ongoing risks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Alex Côté?
Alex Côté was an 11-year-old boy who was tragically killed in a hit-and-run collision while cycling in the Beauport borough of Quebec City in June.
Why was the memorial postponed?
The family postponed the installation of a white ghost bike memorial after receiving a wave of inappropriate and hateful messages from local residents and drivers upset over nearby traffic speed bumps.
Who was arrested following the crash?
A 76-year-old woman who allegedly fled the scene of the fatal collision was subsequently arrested by authorities.
What is a ghost bike memorial?
A ghost bike is a painted white bicycle placed at a roadside crash site as a quiet memorial to honor a cyclist killed or severely injured on the road, while also raising public awareness for cycling safety.
How did local officials react to the hate messages?
Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand and local city councillors publicly condemned the hateful messages, expressing profound outrage and calling for community empathy and improved road sharing.
