On 22 September 2025, Will Richter was riding his bike to the University of Melbourne via Macaulay Road Kensington when he was struck and killed by the driver of a truck. It was his 19th birthdayThis annual memorial ride is to send a clear message to road authorities - that people who ride bikes are deserving of a network of safe bike lanes - and are calling on authorities to make the necessary changes to our roads so that they are safe for all road users.Ride with us on as we make our way to Kensington via West Melbourne. We will pause for a moment of reflection on Rankins Road, the site of Will’s tragic death.From there we will complete Will’s trip to the University of Melbourne via Macaulay Road, Arden Street, Wreckyn Street and Grattan Street.William Richter Memorial: This memorial is a living constellation of candles and stories for Will. Each light marks a life he touched; each message adds another thread to the map of his kindness. You’re welcome to add your own memory - every message is welcomed with tenderness and kept here so that, on difficult days and gentle ones alike, his warmth can be felt again.Legislative Assembly, Hansard Members statements: William Richter, Thursday,16 October 2025, Ellen SANDELL (Melbourne) Today I want to pay tribute to a much-admired Kensington local, William Richter, who was tragically killed on his 19th birthday while riding his bike on Macaulay Road heading to a lecture at the University of Melbourne. Since that day so many locals have stopped me to talk about Will – about his kindness, generosity, intellect, humour and warmth.2025 Will Richter Memorial Ride: North West City News, Alyson MacDonald, 6 November 2025
As a member of the “bike riding community”, I know many people across Melbourne who ride for transport. So, every time I read of someone being killed while riding their bike, I brace myself to learn whether it was someone I knew.But Will Richter’s death was still a huge shock. You see, I didn’t even know Will was a bike rider, so he wasn’t on my mental list of “people with a high likelihood of becoming a road trauma victim”. Rather, Will was the barely 19-year-old son of a dear family friend. I never got to meet Will, but I know his Mum, his uncles, his Nana.Will was riding from his birthday brunch celebration to a university class when he was killed by a truck crashing into him on Macaulay Rd in Kensington. Will’s death is a tragedy, but it was not an accident. Even if the truck driver is found to be technically at fault for turning across Will’s path, we can’t lay all blame at their feet.Macaulay Rd was designated as a Strategic Cycling Corridor (SCC) years ago, but only has painted and disjointed bike lanes, which fail contemporary safety standards. The City of Melbourne commenced designing safe, protected bike lanes on Macaulay Rd in 2021, but these plans are still awaiting approval from the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning (DTP).When interviewed by The Age following Will’s death, DTP sources stated they “considered factors such as loss of car parks, disruption to bus routes, impact on local traffic and disturbance to nearby infrastructure projects when granting approval”. But why should the DTP hold up safety improvements because of car parking, when the local council and community had already supported the upgrades?How many car parks was Will’s life worth? Read more

"Critical Mass is my favourite way to end a week. The camaraderie on the ride, all united by a desire for better cycling infrastructure, is unique and special. A community coming together for a common goal"Running late? Find the ride, download or follow Critical MapsWhat is Critical Mass: How to keep safe on the ride? What is "massing up" and "corking