Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Tampa's Ride of Silence Remembers Bicyclists Killed By Motorists


Tonight about 50 bicyclists pedaled the streets of Tampa from downtown past the ghost bikes of retired Navy Admiral LeRoy Collins and Diane Vega after hearing words from Admiral Collins' son, Ed Collins, and the daughter of Diane, Genevieve. It was an emotionally moving night as we rode our bicycles in silence to remember the 14 bicyclists who have been killed in Hillsborough County since the start of 2010.

The Ride of Silence is a ride held in cities across the country to remember those bicyclists killed on roads around our nation.

My comrade Ellen Pierson rode for a close friend who was killed while biking in Louisiana on a training ride for the recent Police Unity Tour.


Nice work by Drew who worked with Jose Menendez to organize the Ride of Silence. There was also Rides of Silence from the USF campus and in the Dunedin/Clearwater area.


Ed Collins told the bicyclists to get involved.


The local FOX-TV station interviewed Ed.


A motorist ran a red light on Oct. 1 and killed bicyclist Diane Vega at the corner of Himes and Spruce in Tampa. Diane's family have attended events to keep Diane's memory alive and Genevieve thanked the bicyclists for riding in tonight's event.


Ed Collins listens to Genevieve talk about the Ride of Silence meaning for her family.


There's Drew and Karen Kress.


Steve Swiger had the NHL playoffs look.




Biking in downtown.


Heading out of downtown.


On Howard Avenue getting ready to turn left on Kennedy.


Who says you can't bike on Kennedy? We did tonight.


The night's youngest rider.


Steve remembers retired Navy Admiral Collins with the two stars on the black arm band.

1 comment:

GhostRider said...

Steve actually rode a bike? Amazing...I hadn't seen that in a long time! ;)