WORCESTER - William E. Phoenix was such an avid cyclist, he rode his bike 365 days a year, according to his family.

The 54-year-old grandfather was recalled as a man who loved the outdoors and who celebrated life to the fullest. Biking around the area was an "art form" for him, said his nephew Jes Sisco.

“It wasn’t about where he was or where he was heading,” added Mr. Phoenix’s sister, Brenda Phoenix. “It was just the freedom of being on his bike.”

Police on Monday identified Mr. Phoenix as the bicyclist killed last week in a crash on Belmont Street (Route 9). Mr. Phoenix, who lived in Shrewsbury, grew up in Oakham and graduated from Quabbin Regional High School in Barre, according to his Facebook page.

Mr. Phoenix died Wednesday night from injuries suffered in a collision with a car driven by a 29-year-old man. The driver, who has not been charged, was in a 1998 Volkswagen Beetle heading west around 5:30 p.m. Police said Mr. Phoenix also was heading west, and the crash occurred near Rebecca Avenue.

Police said the man driving the Volkswagen pulled over and remained at the scene. A blinking red light was attached to the rear of Mr. Phoenix’s bike.

The crash remains under investigation.

In a conference call Monday evening, Mr. Phoenix’s family said they believed he might have been biking out a bit from the edge of the road because of poor road conditions; the area's first snow of the season had fallen earlier last week.

Mr. Phoenix’s niece, Brianna Arnold, asked drivers to consider giving cyclists a three-foot buffer zone. She urged people to check out the grass-roots campaign for that courtesy at www.3feetplease.com.

A bill scheduled for a hearing Wednesday in the Massachusetts Legislature would require motorists to provide a minimum of 3 feet when passing a bicyclist. As of December, 26 states and the District of Columbia have enacted 3-feet passing laws, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Mr. Sisco said he would remember his uncle “with a smile.” He said, “He was fun, loving man. He was a great family man.”

Calling hours for family and friends will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Pillsbury Funeral Home in North Brookfield. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mr. Phoenix’s memory to the Worcester Animal Rescue League, 139 Holden St., Worcester, MA 01606.