Seattle Cyclists Hold Memorial Ride for the Fallen
Sun Break
Published: Sep, 25 2011
Following Saturday's "Moving Planet Seattle" rally, a group of nearly
a hundred cyclists rode through South Lake Union and up to the
University District, past the memorials commemorating the recent deaths
of three Seattle-area cyclists.
You were supposed to show up at the Moving Planet Seattle rally in
some colorful form of non-automotive transportation. Bicycles were the
most popular choice: Several hundred bikes were in Lake Union Park when I
arrived.
Bicycle safety has become a matter of life and death in Seattle,
something that concerns anyone who takes to the streets, on a bicycle or
car. Kudos to Tom Fucoloro of Seattle Bike Blog, who organized this afternoon's "Safe Streets Social" ride, honoring those who lost their lives in the three recent fatal Seattle bike accidents.
When we passed the corner of Dexter and Thomas, where Mike Wang was killed on July 29
by a hit-and-run driver of an SUV, our long line of cyclists-80 to 100
of us, I'd estimate-cried out "Wang! Wang! Wang!" to a group of
well-dressed people who, it seemed, were his widow, children, and
elderly father.
The sight of the father's prolonged, deeply respectful bow was one of the saddest and most beautiful things I've ever seen. [Tweet from @VeloBusDriver: "Haunting image of the day: Mike Wang's widow crying by his ghost bike as we rode by. Can't get her face out of my head."]
Next, we biked to the memorial for Brian Fairbrother,
who crashed on August 30 and passed away nine days later. All three of
these memorials have ghost bikes now, non-functioning bicycles at the
site of the accidents, painted white, where people can leave flowers and
memories. At Brian's, I heard the following conversation on the
bike-with-child's-tandem-trailer next to me:
Father: This memorial marks the spot where a cyclist died not long ago.
4-or 5-year old daughter: Why did he die?
Father: He didn't see that the sidewalk suddenly went down a staircase. He had an accident.
Daughter: Is that his bike, up in that tree? How did the bike get in the tree?
Father: No, that isn't the real bike...that's a memorial, a statue of a bike, so we can remember this man.
Daughter: (pauses, thinks) What was his name?
Father: Brian.
A
#70 bus wants to pass our long line of bikes heading north on Eastlake.
You drivers-before getting impatient with us because we're getting in
your way, try to understand this situation from a cyclist's point of
view: a) there's no bike lane on this street, b) there's a really steep
hill, and c) there's no other road through this neighborhood. (Photo:
Jonathan Dean)
All of us slowly biked up Eastlake and across the University Bridge to the intersection of the Ave with Campus Parkway, where Robert Townsend was killed on September 10
by a car turning left. A truck with a Jimmy John's logo passed by as we
gathered near Robert's ghost bike, a fitting memento for Robert-known
as the fastest sandwich delivery cyclist at Jimmy John's on the Ave.
Although it may sound like a grim afternoon, it was in fact a
pleasant, social ride on a nice-maybe a wee bit muggy-day. The
participants were a diverse group: Some were white-collar bike
commuters; others work closer to the gears and grease. Almost everyone
had a story of the bike accident that nearly killed them. Everyone was
deeply moved by the three ghost-bikes.
Tom Fucoloro of Seattle Bike Blog closed the event on a positive
note, pointing out that according to the most recent census, the growth
of Seattle's bike community has been astronomical. We're now second only
to Portland when it comes to great cities for cycling. This is
wonderful. But no one needs to die for people to get where they're
going.
I'd like to offer two bits of unsolicited advice. CYCLISTS: Always
imagine you're invisible-they can't see you. Never assume they know
you're there. If you get in their way, you're the one who's going to be
hurt. DRIVERS: Be careful when you're turning left-that's how these two
guys got killed. And please lock your emotions in the trunk when you're
driving a car. Your impatience, road rage, and sense of outrage and
violation-"What are these bikers doing in my lane?"-are no more
necessary to functional transportation than anyone's death.
Published: Sep, 25 2011
Following Saturday's "Moving Planet Seattle" rally, a group of nearly
a hundred cyclists rode through South Lake Union and up to the
University District, past the memorials commemorating the recent deaths
of three Seattle-area cyclists.
You were supposed to show up at the Moving Planet Seattle rally in
some colorful form of non-automotive transportation. Bicycles were the
most popular choice: Several hundred bikes were in Lake Union Park when I
arrived.
Bicycle safety has become a matter of life and death in Seattle,
something that concerns anyone who takes to the streets, on a bicycle or
car. Kudos to Tom Fucoloro of Seattle Bike Blog, who organized this afternoon's "Safe Streets Social" ride, honoring those who lost their lives in the three recent fatal Seattle bike accidents.
When we passed the corner of Dexter and Thomas, where Mike Wang was killed on July 29
by a hit-and-run driver of an SUV, our long line of cyclists-80 to 100
of us, I'd estimate-cried out "Wang! Wang! Wang!" to a group of
well-dressed people who, it seemed, were his widow, children, and
elderly father.
The sight of the father's prolonged, deeply respectful bow was one of the saddest and most beautiful things I've ever seen. [Tweet from @VeloBusDriver: "Haunting image of the day: Mike Wang's widow crying by his ghost bike as we rode by. Can't get her face out of my head."]
Next, we biked to the memorial for Brian Fairbrother,
who crashed on August 30 and passed away nine days later. All three of
these memorials have ghost bikes now, non-functioning bicycles at the
site of the accidents, painted white, where people can leave flowers and
memories. At Brian's, I heard the following conversation on the
bike-with-child's-tandem-trailer next to me:
Father: This memorial marks the spot where a cyclist died not long ago.
4-or 5-year old daughter: Why did he die?
Father: He didn't see that the sidewalk suddenly went down a staircase. He had an accident.
Daughter: Is that his bike, up in that tree? How did the bike get in the tree?
Father: No, that isn't the real bike...that's a memorial, a statue of a bike, so we can remember this man.
Daughter: (pauses, thinks) What was his name?
Father: Brian.
A
#70 bus wants to pass our long line of bikes heading north on Eastlake.
You drivers-before getting impatient with us because we're getting in
your way, try to understand this situation from a cyclist's point of
view: a) there's no bike lane on this street, b) there's a really steep
hill, and c) there's no other road through this neighborhood. (Photo:
Jonathan Dean)
All of us slowly biked up Eastlake and across the University Bridge to the intersection of the Ave with Campus Parkway, where Robert Townsend was killed on September 10
by a car turning left. A truck with a Jimmy John's logo passed by as we
gathered near Robert's ghost bike, a fitting memento for Robert-known
as the fastest sandwich delivery cyclist at Jimmy John's on the Ave.
Although it may sound like a grim afternoon, it was in fact a
pleasant, social ride on a nice-maybe a wee bit muggy-day. The
participants were a diverse group: Some were white-collar bike
commuters; others work closer to the gears and grease. Almost everyone
had a story of the bike accident that nearly killed them. Everyone was
deeply moved by the three ghost-bikes.
Tom Fucoloro of Seattle Bike Blog closed the event on a positive
note, pointing out that according to the most recent census, the growth
of Seattle's bike community has been astronomical. We're now second only
to Portland when it comes to great cities for cycling. This is
wonderful. But no one needs to die for people to get where they're
going.
I'd like to offer two bits of unsolicited advice. CYCLISTS: Always
imagine you're invisible-they can't see you. Never assume they know
you're there. If you get in their way, you're the one who's going to be
hurt. DRIVERS: Be careful when you're turning left-that's how these two
guys got killed. And please lock your emotions in the trunk when you're
driving a car. Your impatience, road rage, and sense of outrage and
violation-"What are these bikers doing in my lane?"-are no more
necessary to functional transportation than anyone's death.