Memorial Ride for former IVC student

The Ghost Rider Bike Memorial, placed on the spot where Joseph Robinson, a 18-year-old former Irvine Valley College student lost his life last Sunday while biking. He was struck by a hit and run driver and left on the side of the road at the Intersection of South of Santiago Canyon Road and Loma Ridge Jeep Trail. Co-workers, family and friends are bicycling riding to this spot to celebrate a memorial service on his honor and to raise awareness on motorists to respect bikers’ rights to the roads. Orange, Calif.(photo/Marivel Guzman)

The family of Joseph Robinson, a 21-year-old former Irvine Valley College student, celebrated his life with a Ghost Bike Ride on Wednesday morning.

Robinson was killed by a motorist on Monday while riding his bicycle on Santiago Canyon Road by Loma Ridge Jeep Trail.

A group of friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, classmates and community members joined in a ride from Jax Bicycle Center in Irvine, where Robinson used to work, to the intersection where Robinson lost his life. South of Santiago Canyon Road, drivers will see the Ghost Bike attached to the fence in the place where Robinson was struck.

“I’ve always had a concern about [driving through here],” said Eric Lee, family-friend and Irvine resident. “People drive too crazy fast over here. I don’t have the balls to drive through Santiago Canyon on a bicycle. It’s dangerous enough out on the surface streets.”

The Ghost Bike Ride started at 6:30 a.m. from Jax Bicycle Center. California Highway Patrol and Irvine Police lead the cyclists to the canyon.

Once the riders entered Santiago Canyon Road, the CHP closed the roads both ways to allow the cyclists to enter Loma Ridge Jeep Trail, where the memorial service with more than 200 attendees took place.

This memorial ride was planned by Jax Bicycle Center owner Dave Hanson and the CHP in coordination with Irvine Police Department assisted with protecting the riders.

Ghost Rider Bike in memory of Joseph Robinson organized by Jax Bicycle Center owner Dave Hanson, where Robinson used to work, in Irvine Calif. (photo/Marivel Guzman)

“Joey worked for me at Jax Bicycle only three months, but he was in bicycle business for almost a year-and-a-half,” Hanson said. “He worked at Two Wheels and a Planet before.”

Mason Cox, a coworker of Robinson’s, said he was quiet, but once you got to know him he was very funny guy.

“Nowadays people are in a such a big rush to go places, they need to take a big breath, motorists need to be more respectful,” Cox said.

Irvine Police Officer Patrick Peña said the security is enforced on the road on the weekends.

“On the weekends there is a higher volume of traffic up here,”Peña said. “Bicycles, cyclers, motorcyclers, pedestrians… we do what we can to beef up the security up here.”

Photo-Marivel Guzman
Ghost Bike Riders ready to part for the memorial

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