- A ghost bike was placed on Beach Road in Sea Point to honour 17-year-old cyclist Calib de Kock, who died after colliding with a car door recently.
- The memorial aims to raise awareness about cyclist safety and the dangers of “dooring” incidents.
- Calib was remembered as a talented and beloved young cyclist by his community.
To honour 17-year-old Calib de Kock, a cyclist who died tragically in Sea Point recently, a white bicycle (ghost bike) was attached to a lamp post along Beach Road.
The teenager from Bonteheuwel allegedly collided with a car door, which opened in front of him, on Tuesday 11 June. He succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
His death sent shock waves through the cycling community.
A ghost bike initiative is a memorial for a bicyclist who was either killed or seriously hit while riding. The bicycle is sprayed white and locked to a street pole near the accident scene.
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Neil Robinson, chief executive officer of Pedal Power Association (PPA), says the bicycle was placed there by Active Mobility Forum, a cycling organisation. He adds that this is also in remembrance of all cyclists who have been involved in accidents over the last few months. “I think it is a great initiative and we fully support it. It also highlights the peril cyclists face, giving some visibility to tragic incidents such as this. Too often do they go unnoticed or are forgotten too quickly.”
Robinson says although he did not know Calib personally, he was a talented youngster. “I know he was a talented up-and-coming young cyclist. And his life was cut far too sort.”
He appeals to motorists to always be aware of cyclists and pedestrians. “As the association we are working with local government and the City of Cape Town to try and erect more signage on that strip of the Atlantic Seaboard to alert motorists particularly. Vehicles do not become less of a risk once they come to a complete stop and parked in a parking bay.
“They then pose a completely different threat to cyclists. Dooring incidents occur when a vehicle occupant opens a car door suddenly and is potentially devastating for the cyclist involved.”
Robinson says PPA’s “Stay Wider of the Rider” safety campaign, launched 10 years ago, constantly addresses road safety among all road users throughout South Africa. “Whether you are in a parked car, getting out of your car, walking towards your car, whether you stop at traffic lights please obey the laws of the road.”
He explains that tragedies happen “far too often and are preventive. Please respect the rules of the road and drive in a dignified law-abiding manner. Whether you are in a car, on a bicycle, in a taxi or a truck obey the rules of the road and stay alert and aware.”
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De Kock’s former primary school teacher and coach, Graham Hector, explained the teen joined the school’s cycling programme from grades 4 to 7.
Hector added that De Kock visited the school often. “He had such an aura about himself, he was quite a handyman always eager to fix bicycles.
“The kids all looked up to him and became attached to him. I started taking him to the bicycle racing events at Killarney on Thursday evenings. Last year he qualified for the Western Province u-17 cycling team. Our focus was mainly on the enjoyment of the sport.”
Hector said the teen’s death came as a massive shock.
“It was a shock to hear the news, I didn’t expect that. It was hard to believe that he would die from an injury like this. I have his helmet here and there’s barely a scratch on it. His passing still feels unreal.”
All cyclists
He added that the ghost bike pays homage to all cyclists.
“If society is made aware of the ghost bike it does make people think twice before they open car doors. Not everyone is aware of cyclists. We as cyclists will open a car door differently because we know the dangers.
“The ghost bike is a good thing to remind all road users to open the car door halfway before you open full-swing. I have collided with doors in the past, breaking my collarbone and tearing muscles on two occasions.”
Anthea de Kock described her son as a boy with a “beautiful spirit”
“I didn’t know that he impacted so many lives. Because he was always just indoors. He only went to school, and to practice with his coach.”
The mother explained that she visited the accident scene for the first time on Sunday 30 June where she saw the ghost bike.
“This is a beautiful memorial. The bike is beautiful. We went on Sunday to place some fresh flowers there. Calib was a beautiful boy, soft and always wanted the best for others.”
