A ghost bike was installed Friday morning in Montreal to commemorate the death of Meryem Anoun, who was crushed to death one week ago.
Anoun was bicycling east on Belanger St. when a dump truck turned right onto 6th Ave. and drove over her.
Witnesses said the truck driver never saw the cyclist, while police said they believe the truck's large blind spots obscured the driver's view.
Her death was pronounced at the scene, with police saying that no protective equipment could have saved her.
Anoun, 41, was a single mother of three children. She had been running errands in preparation for a friend's wedding the following day and decided to go for a ride to relax.
Her sons and daughter said Anoun was known for helping others.
"Her whole life she was also doing efforts to make everyone happy. Now it's her time to rest," said 14-year-old Hamza Gaidi.
Her oldest son, Badr Gaidi, said last Friday was the worst day of his life.
"If my mom's death can change things and save some lives in the future then it's the thing that will make me and my family the happiest," said Badr.
But this memorial was heartening for the family.
"It means for me that people do care and they want to change things," said Badr.
Gabrielle Anctil, one of the co-organizers of the memorial, said it was, as always, as emotional ceremony.
"We've set up so many ghost bikes. This is the fourth ghost bike we've set up for a cyclist that's been struck by a truck driver," said Anctil.
She added that Anoun's death is particularly frustrating because public consultations on truck safety were held earlier this year.
Recommendations made to Montreal's Executive Committee included altering trucks to reduce blind spots -- or banning trucks from small streets altogether.
"The truck driver never saw Meryem anoun and had he been able to see her obviously he wouldn't have turned," said Anctil.
Quebec Solidaire said safety regulations need to change with the times.
"Our laws and our rules were made at a time where those issues weren't there," said Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.
Anoun's family said the best way to honour their mother would be to make the streets safer to prevent further deaths.