Bike Advocate Keeps the Memory of Her Husband Alive
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 02.19.08
From raised cross-walks to chicanes to sasquatches campaigning for their rights, the numerous offerings from StreetFilms, a website dedicated to the “NYC streets renaissance” have proved hugely popular on TreeHugger. They’ve gotten such a good response in fact, and we’ve been enjoying them so thoroughly, that we’ve been visiting the site regularly to find more. One of the most inspiring features of the site is their Cyclist of the Month profile, where they create a short film celebrating one of the many bicycling heroes out there. This month it’s the turn of Mary Beth Kelly, whose husband was killed by a truck as they cycled together on a New York greenway. While many would shy away from biking after such a horrific experience, Mary Beth has become an outspoken advocate of pedestrian and cyclist rights:
“When he died in such a sad and unnecessary way, I wanted to channel and transform my anger, my pain and my loss into something forward looking and in keeping with the things we loved. […] It took me a few months to get back on my bike, but I don’t associate being on my bike with what happened to my husband as I do cars and trucks and what happened to my husband.”
::StreetFilms::via site visit::
Very sad. We should all remember those from time to time who have fallen while riding. Whether it's getting from place to place or just going out to enjoy, all the while not consuming anything.
The story is similar to Eric Ng who's Ghost Bike memorial is constantly decorated with flowers. He was 22 and was killed on a bike path.
There was the girl (young as well) who worked for an advertising firm. In her memory they helped come up with NY's "Look" campaign to raise awareness about cyclists.
It is worth a look to go to www.visualresistance.org and look at the ghost bikes there. All white bikes chained up near the scene of a death. Attached are small plaques about the person. Very moving.
It is sad that I pass by more and more of these on my way to work. About 3 or 4 depending on my route.
Always a good site - www.transalt.org
vsk
Often times (especially during Rush Hour), I'm scared to cycle where I live. There are sections of road that I go on that don't have a bike route on them, and motorists for some reason can't take 10 seconds out of their busy schedule to slow down and wait for me to pass, or go around me. Only a few times has anyone passed up the opportunity to go around me, or slowed down when they can't go around me.
I love people who spread the word about bike commuting. I live in San Jose, CA and I bike every day year round. I picked my house because it was close to a bike path that I take to work.