**Mother Advocates for Bicycle Safety After Daughter’s Tragic Death**
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Following the devastating loss of her daughter, Melinda Montoya is shining a light on bicycle safety, becoming an advocate for change in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Montoya’s daughter, Kayla VanLandingham, was only 19 years old when she was struck and killed while riding her bicycle through a crosswalk on Carlisle Boulevard in July 2023.
At the time of her death, Kayla was a dedicated student at the University of New Mexico, pursuing a degree in art history and working with the Esperanza Bicycle Safety Education Center. Her passion for cycling and commitment to promoting bike safety were evident, as she often spoke about the need for safer roads for cyclists and pedestrians. Unfortunately, her life was cut short, leaving a tragic impact on her family and community.
In the wake of this heart-wrenching event, Montoya has taken on the mission that Kayla once championed, pushing for legislative changes to enhance the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. Reports indicate that the Albuquerque police have stated that there will be no charges against the driver involved in the incident, which has only strengthened Montoya’s resolve to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Since Kayla’s untimely passing, Albuquerque has made strides to improve road safety. This includes the adoption of a new city ordinance revising the traffic code for the first time in over five decades. The updates, which received unanimous support from the City Council, require motorists to yield to “vulnerable road users,” a term that encompasses not only cyclists but also users of e-bikes, scooters, skateboards, and wheelchairs. Additionally, the city has pledged to install a push-button signal at the crosswalk where Kayla lost her life.
In a significant move, New Mexico’s Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 73 into law, mandating that student drivers undergo a minimum of three hours of training specifically focusing on the presence of vulnerable road users. Montoya has been a pivotal figure in advocating for these changes at various stages, including her involvement in a new traffic education campaign launched this month.
To support this initiative, Montoya features in a 30-second commercial aimed at raising awareness about crosswalk safety. In the ad, she passionately recounts, “My daughter, Kayla, was 19, riding her bike across this intersection. She believed everyone deserves safety, dignity and kindness. But our traffic laws didn’t protect her. So I fought for change.” She underscores the importance of clarity for drivers, saying, “Now, every multi-use trail crossing is a crosswalk. Drivers must stop. No passing. No second guessing.”
Montoya, a physical therapist by profession, reflects on her daughter’s profound love for biking, which blossomed after the family relocated to a Navajo reservation in Chinle, Arizona, in 2015. Kayla gained a sense of freedom and agency through cycling, and together, she and Montoya embarked on numerous biking adventures, eschewing traditional family vacations in favour of cycling trips across various landscapes in North America.
Despite the challenges Kayla faced, including a diagnosis of craniopharyngioma at the age of four and the subsequent battles against health complications, Montoya recalls her daughter’s adventurous spirit and zest for life. “We did a lot of rafting trips, a lot of camping all over,” she reminisces fondly. “She was absolutely just an adventurous spirit.”
Montoya’s efforts to advocate for her daughter and others like her stem from her belief that advocacy and safety are vital, especially for those whose voices are often overlooked. She draws strength from her daughter’s resilience, stating, “Her influence and her capacity to always stay soft despite having to deal with really hard stuff really gives me the capacity to also do the hard things.”
In her pursuit of change, Montoya hopes that no other parent will have to endure the pain of losing a child in a preventable accident. The recently adopted traffic regulations and ongoing campaigns are steps towards a future where every cyclist and pedestrian can cross streets with confidence, in a community committed to the safety of all its members. Montoya’s determination and courage shine as a tribute to Kayla’s legacy, echoing her belief that everyone deserves a safe passage home.