Every day, Metrolinx Transit Safety officers lace up boots and step out to serve the public and protect the peace across a vast network of rails and stations.

Today, a group of those officers are putting their feet down – on the pedals of bicycles – in the memory of fallen police and peace officers. As part of a national Police Ride to Remember, eight Transit Safety officers, along with a former special constable, will bike a route that mirrors the Lakeshore East and West rail lines – starting at Aldershot GO at 8:30 a.m. today (Sept 26) and arriving at Oshawa GO station after 3 p.m.

This is a modified version of past years, which – prior to COVID-19 – normally had officers riding a 790 km. route from Aylmer to Ottawa.

The main purpose of the events, says Metrolinx Special Constable Brenton Hoffman, a member of Metrolinx’s K9 Unit who helped organize today’s Metrolinx ride, is to: “Honour fallen officers – remembering them as heroes in life not death.”

That includes a nod to the families of officers who have died on the job.

“We hope things will be back to normal for (the) 2021 Ride to Remember, and we can join the 200-plus riders in the normal format on the four day riding event to Ottawa,” says Hoffman, a ten year veteran of Transit Safety.

The Transit Safety team of riders come from varied biking backgrounds – some ride all year long, while others dust off their bicycles just for this event. They’ll be trailed by a support vehicle.

To learn more about the cause, and other events, just click here.

And to read about the Canadian Police and Peace Officer’s Memorial, go here.

And if you see the Transit Safety officers on their 120 km. ride today, give them a safe amount of space and perhaps a wave, as they’re moving forward so past sacrifices are not forgotten.