The families of two Canberra cyclists killed in separate collisions with cars this year have spoken publicly for the first time since their deaths.
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At a memorial service held at Nara Peace Park on Saturday, dozens of people paid tribute to Kathy Ho and Teresa Foce, who died just months apart.
Ms Foce collided with a car while she was riding near Conder in April and died in a Sydney hospital two weeks later.
Ms Ho was cycling near Bungendore in June when she died following a collision with a van.
Ms Ho's husband Mark Grundy was cycling just ahead of his wife at the time of the fatal incident.
"I was about one kilometre ahead of Kathy when a passing driver alerted me to an accident behind me. I returned to find my wife of 35 years sprawled on the road, and two registered nurses already in attendance," he said.
"The early weeks [following the incident] were numb."
Mr Grundy described his late wife as a passionate cyclist, who took up the sport just five years ago. They participated in many long-distance rides together.
"Virtually every kilometre of the 30,000 kilometres she rode, I rode with her. It wasn't unusual for us to do 200 kilometres in a week for training," Mr Grundy said.
"Growing up my wife never had a childhood where she learned to ride a bike, so I was dumbfounded when five years ago she came home and told me she was going to cycle from Mt Gambier to Geelong in four months time for the Great Victorian Bike Ride.
"I was recruited as a trainer and medic, and I was there for her first wobbly hundred metres, which turned into one kilometre, then 10, then 20 and then 30."
As part of the service, families of the two victims rang the Canberra Rotary peace bell, before holding a minute's silence.
A large yellow ribbon commemorating both cyclists was spread out around the bell, held by the cycling community in attendance.
Ms Foce's husband Michael Kearney remembered his wife as a keen and passionate cyclist, who was a source of comfort for many Canberra riders.
"The accident was something unexpected and very sudden. She was set off one morning on a regular ride to Tidbinbilla. A few hours later she was in the ICU. A few weeks later she succumbed to her injuries," Mr Kearney said.
"It's still very hard without her."
Mr Kearney said he and his wife would often go out on rides together, with Ms Foce often travelling ahead to make the journeys longer.
"We would ride together all the time," he said.
"We would ride to Gundaroo and she would ride well north of there before she decided to turn around and come back. She was just so full of energy and motivation."
Saturday's memorial came a day after the ACT Greens called for stronger enforcement for drivers to remain at least one metre away from cyclists when overtaking.
Police have issued 12 infringements or cautions to drivers about safe distance laws since 2016. There have been 179 complaints made about ACTION bus drivers in the same period over incidents involving cyclists.
Pedal Power ACT chief executive Ian Ross said more awareness is needed on Canberra roads to keep cyclists safe.
"It's shocking to lose two people in a short amount of time, and we want to prevent this from happening in the future," Mr Ross said.
"All the cycling community think is 'that could've been me', and this is something that we want to avoid."
Nationally, 22 cyclists have died this year following accidents with cars on the road.
Mr Grundy said he and his wife had previously made plans to ride several long-distance bike rides together later in the year, and he intends to take part in them to honour Ms Ho's memory.
"My hope is to scatter her ashes on the Great Ocean Road later this year as a commemoration where she accomplished her first great cycling achievement," he said.
