BERLIN — Family and friends gathered outside Tyler Equipment on the Berlin Turnpike to dedicate a white memorial bike honoring Chase Anderson, a Berlin teen who died after being struck by a vehicle while riding his bike in 2022.
Anderson, a 15-year-old Berlin High School student, was riding his bike in the early morning of Saturday, August 20, 2022 when he was struck by a car while crossing the Berlin Turnpike.
“Ghost Bikes,” or as the family prefers, “Angel Bikes,” are used across the country, represented as white, reflective, bikes that are normally chained to streetlights, poles or trees at the exact spots where a cyclist was killed or severely injured in a traffic collision. They are placed by community and family members of the victim as a roadside memorial, but also as a reminder to motorists to share the road.
More than 600 such memorial bikes have been installed in communities across the country.
“This bike stands as a reminder to everyone who passes by, not only of how fragile life can be, but also of how important it is to embrace each day the way Chase did – with determination, energy and purpose,” said Jim Arnold, Anderson’s former bike coach and high school gym teacher.
“He loved riding his bike more than anything,” his mother, Lynn Swanson, said.
According to his obituary, Chase Anderson was active through the school, participating in the Berlin Police Cadet Program and the Berlin High School Rise Program. He was also involved in Upbeat and Bike Club. Outside of school, he enjoyed working out, spending time at the gym, watching WWE wrestling and playing Xbox with friends. He also enjoyed parkour and was known for flipping off of anything he could find.
Arnold, along with close friends and family members, organized this memorial after Anderson’s high school class graduated last year. The group wanted to continue honoring Anderson’s legacy after deciding to end the annual fundraising bike ride held in his memory.
The organizers emphasized the importance of using a fully functional bicycle for the memorial.
“It represents who he was,” Arnold said.
The bike, assembled by friends and family members, now stands as a permanent memorial at 1980 Berlin Turnpike.
Family and friends remembered Anderson not only for his love of cycling but also for the impact he had on those around him.
“Nobody would ever feel alone if Chase was in the room,” his aunt, Leah Carbonell said.
“I remember his endless energy, his drive and his enthusiasm for life,” Arnold said. “Those are the things I want to carry forward.”
During the dedication ceremony, Arnold reflected on the group’s cycling trips with Anderson.
“When he rode with us, he was always out in front of the group,” Arnold said. “I used to joke that now I know why he was named Chase, because we were always chasing after him on all of our rides.”
For those gathered at the memorial, the bicycle serves as both a lasting tribute and a symbol of Anderson’s passion for life and cycling.
“He made an impact on a lot of people,” Swanson said.
More than the programs he joined or the hobbies he loved, Anderson will be remembered for the way he made people feel seen, included and never alone. A legacy carried forward in every laugh he inspired, every child he encouraged and every life he touched.