Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Bike Safety Rally This Wednesday

Calling All Pink!
This Wednesday was supposed to be our first scheduled Steak Ride of the season, but we are instead urging everyone to join forces and attend the Bike Safety Rally starting at Rasmussen Bike Shop at 5:30 on Wednesday evening. See below from Ken Sherman:
On Saturday morning, April 11, fellow cyclist Doug Smith was recklessly run down by a motorist near Winterset Iowa. Doug suffered serious life threatening injuries and is recovering at Methodist hospital. The cycling community of Iowa is outraged by incidents like this which unfortunately are occurring on a much more frequent basis.

If your life has ever been touched by all the good that comes from riding a bike, we invite you to ride with us on the bike ride of your life! We are riding to proclaim to fellow Iowans that bicyclists are living breathing human beings, just like your father, mother and sons and daughters. We want everyone to understand that riding a bike on shared public highways is not a privilege but a right that has been supported and endorsed by Iowa law for years.
Join us on this Silent Ride and encourage law enforcement officials across the state to fully enforce the current Iowa motor vehicle code and ask that our state legislatures pass Senate file 117, protecting the rights and safety of cyclists. Come together, with a single voice, to encourage city and county attorneys to fully investigate bicycle/motor vehicle accidents and to hold those responsible accountable under the full extent of the law.

Please join us on Wednesday April 15 for the bike ride of your life to the Iowa State Capital departing promptly at 5:30 PM from 301 Grand.
Ken, who is helping to organize this rally, was also hit on his bike by a motorist only 6 weeks ago. The time has come for us all to take action and be heard. We need to do what we can to insure our safety and the safety of those we love on the streets and roads of our state.
Please come, wear your pink and show your support for the Bike Safety Bill. Pass the word... make a difference!!
Kim Hopkins
In case you missed the news story about Doug's accident, here's the link:
http://www.kcci.com/video/19170301/index.html--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~

1 comment:

Tracey Kelley said...

Kim, thanks for doing the interview with my husband Matt on Radio Iowa! I sent him your original e-mail and told him to do a story. :D It's nice to have connections!

Sorry I'll miss the ride tonight, but I'll wave pink!

Tracey Kelley