Patrick Ytsma
Patrick Ytsma
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Age: 53
Location:
Near Fahy bridge
Bethlehem , PA
United States
Patrick was riding his bike when he was crashed into and killed by the a car driver who was later charged with 'careless death'
From his obituary:
Patrick B. Ytsma, 53, of Bethlehem, died December 8, 2011, at St.
Lukes Hospital, Fountain Hill campus, after being struck by a car while
riding his bicycle. He was the husband of Judith B. Parr, with whom he
shared 23 years of marriage.
Born in Oklahoma City, OK, Patrick was a son of Bill T. R. and Itie
(Velds) Ytsma. He was an architect for Spillman Farmer Architects,
Bethlehem.
Pat would want everyone to know that bicycles have the same legal
rights to the road as cars. Please treat bicyclists with respect.
Survivors: Parents; wife; children, Willem and Caroline; brothers,
Pieter and Powell; sister, Donita, wife of Andy Marze; sisters-in-law,
Caroline and Louise Parr; Elizabeth Parr, wife of Ed Reibman; nieces and
nephews.
Contributions: In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to
Judith B. Parr, for the purpose of establishing educational funds for
their children. Donations may be mailed or delivered to the funeral
home, 1629 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18102.
From this Article:
A long stream of white lights added to Bethlehem's many holiday illuminations Thursday night.
The
lights were on the front of more than 300 bicycles rode by cyclists
paying tribute to one of their own who was struck and killed by a car
while pursuing his passion.
The cyclists rode past the spot on the Fahy Bridge where city resident Patrick Ytsma was struck by a car while riding his bicycle Dec. 4. The 53-year-old died four days later.
"It's enormously touching," Ytsma's wife, Judith Parr, told the cyclists as they wrapped up their ride at Payrow Plaza.
And Parr had another message for the crowd: "Keep on riding. Pat would want you to keep on riding."
The
other speakers at the Patrick Ytsma Ride of Respect adamantly agreed
that Ytsma would want them to keep riding their bicycles. But some said
it frightened them to know they could still be at risk even if they are
strict practitioners of bicycle safety, as Ytsma was regarded to be.
Bethlehem Police Commissioner Jason Schiffer, a longtime bicycle officer, said investigators do not believe Ytsma did anything wrong before he was hit, but they can't find any fault with the driver or the road conditions, either.
"That is deeply troubling when you can't find any factor why this occurred," he said. "It could happen to any one of us riding the right way."
Steve Schmitt, director of the Coalition for Appropriate Transportation bicycle advocacy group, said Ytsma's death should be a call to further promote cyclists' rights.
"It shouldn't be that we stop riding our bikes in traffic, but that we should ride our bikes in traffic more than ever," he said. "Now more than ever, each of us is an ambassador for cycling."
The event included a petition to request more shared bicycle lane markings
on local roads. Bethlehem has a good number of them - and several
people called Bethlehem a "bicycle heaven" - but greater awareness of
cyclists is still needed, Schmitt said.
In addition to 300
participating cyclists, another 30 people watched the ride from Payrow
Plaza, including Parr and her and Ytsma's two teenage children, Caroline
and Willem. Friends also have posted a memorial "ghost bike" dedicated
to Ytsma near the Fahy Bridge.
"When I saw you come down New Street, I couldn't help but look for Pat," Parr said. "I would say to cyclists, have a good time, especially when you're going up a hill - for Pat and for yourselves."
Parr also had a message for motorists: that they look out for and respect cyclists.
"On Dec. 4, I did not have my husband come home," she said. "I don't want that to happen to anyone else."
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Age: 53
Location:
Near Fahy bridge
Bethlehem , PA
United States
Patrick was riding his bike when he was crashed into and killed by the a car driver who was later charged with 'careless death'
From his obituary:
Patrick B. Ytsma, 53, of Bethlehem, died December 8, 2011, at St.
Lukes Hospital, Fountain Hill campus, after being struck by a car while
riding his bicycle. He was the husband of Judith B. Parr, with whom he
shared 23 years of marriage.
Born in Oklahoma City, OK, Patrick was a son of Bill T. R. and Itie
(Velds) Ytsma. He was an architect for Spillman Farmer Architects,
Bethlehem.
Pat would want everyone to know that bicycles have the same legal
rights to the road as cars. Please treat bicyclists with respect.
Survivors: Parents; wife; children, Willem and Caroline; brothers,
Pieter and Powell; sister, Donita, wife of Andy Marze; sisters-in-law,
Caroline and Louise Parr; Elizabeth Parr, wife of Ed Reibman; nieces and
nephews.
Contributions: In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to
Judith B. Parr, for the purpose of establishing educational funds for
their children. Donations may be mailed or delivered to the funeral
home, 1629 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18102.
From this Article:
A long stream of white lights added to Bethlehem's many holiday illuminations Thursday night.
The
lights were on the front of more than 300 bicycles rode by cyclists
paying tribute to one of their own who was struck and killed by a car
while pursuing his passion.
The cyclists rode past the spot on the Fahy Bridge where city resident Patrick Ytsma was struck by a car while riding his bicycle Dec. 4. The 53-year-old died four days later.
"It's enormously touching," Ytsma's wife, Judith Parr, told the cyclists as they wrapped up their ride at Payrow Plaza.
And Parr had another message for the crowd: "Keep on riding. Pat would want you to keep on riding."
The
other speakers at the Patrick Ytsma Ride of Respect adamantly agreed
that Ytsma would want them to keep riding their bicycles. But some said
it frightened them to know they could still be at risk even if they are
strict practitioners of bicycle safety, as Ytsma was regarded to be.
Bethlehem Police Commissioner Jason Schiffer, a longtime bicycle officer, said investigators do not believe Ytsma did anything wrong before he was hit, but they can't find any fault with the driver or the road conditions, either.
"That is deeply troubling when you can't find any factor why this occurred," he said. "It could happen to any one of us riding the right way."
Steve Schmitt, director of the Coalition for Appropriate Transportation bicycle advocacy group, said Ytsma's death should be a call to further promote cyclists' rights.
"It shouldn't be that we stop riding our bikes in traffic, but that we should ride our bikes in traffic more than ever," he said. "Now more than ever, each of us is an ambassador for cycling."
The event included a petition to request more shared bicycle lane markings
on local roads. Bethlehem has a good number of them - and several
people called Bethlehem a "bicycle heaven" - but greater awareness of
cyclists is still needed, Schmitt said.
In addition to 300
participating cyclists, another 30 people watched the ride from Payrow
Plaza, including Parr and her and Ytsma's two teenage children, Caroline
and Willem. Friends also have posted a memorial "ghost bike" dedicated
to Ytsma near the Fahy Bridge.
"When I saw you come down New Street, I couldn't help but look for Pat," Parr said. "I would say to cyclists, have a good time, especially when you're going up a hill - for Pat and for yourselves."
Parr also had a message for motorists: that they look out for and respect cyclists.
"On Dec. 4, I did not have my husband come home," she said. "I don't want that to happen to anyone else."