This ride comes just days after a difficult anniversary for Edmonton’s cycling community.

September 21 marks one year since the traggic death of Dr. Darren Markland.

Darren was an ICU doctor, an advocate, a community builder and, through and through, someone who loved riding a bike. He helped create Coffee Outside, bringing people together every Friday morning simply by putting some coffee on a cargo bike and inviting people to show up.

His death was not the result of a collision on an Edmonton street. Darren died while mountain biking near Nordegg. But his loss is still a reminder of how much one person on a bike can mean to a community — and how deeply that absence can be felt.

It is also a moment to remember everyone our community has lost.

People killed while walking, rolling and riding. People seriously injured. People whose lives changed in seconds. Families and friends who still feel an empty space where someone should be.

Critical Mass is joyful. It should be.

We ride because bikes give us freedom. Because riding can make a bad day better. Because kids deserve independence. Because transportation should not have to cost thousands of dollars a year. Because Edmonton looks and feels different when you experience it at the speed of a bike.

And sometimes, we ride because remembering is important too.

Darren’s family said that one way to honour him was simple: get outside, ride your bike, enjoy nature and do something kind for someone.

So this September, we will ride.

We will make noise. We will laugh. We will take up space together. We will look out for one another.

And we will take a moment to remember Darren, and all the people who should still be here riding beside us.

Join us September 25 for Critical Mass.

Bring your bike, e-bike, cargo bike, scooter, skateboard, wheelchair, rollerblades — whatever helps you roll.

Come for the protest. Come for the joy. Come for the community.

Come ride with us.