Memorial Ride in Cupertino

[andtckrtoo]

The City of Cupertino has graciously sponsored a permanent memorial in honor of Kristy and Matt at the site of their crash. There will be a a memorial ride to the site of the plaque, followed by a brief dedication ceremony. Please join us in remembering our friends.

- Saturday, Oct 18
- 8 am ride start (recommend arriving at 7:30am)
- Ride route: Cupertino Civic Center (10350 Torre Avenue) to Stevens Canyon Road

City of Cupertino's Announcement:

Memorials to be Dedicated for Bicyclists

On Sunday, March 9, 2008, two bicyclists were tragically killed in the foothills of Cupertino. Weather permitting, on Saturday, October 18, permanent memorials will be dedicated to Kristy Gough and Matt Peterson. Please join us for this brief ceremony as we honor the memory of our friends and family who have passed.

The morning's events will begin at 8 AM with a gathering at Cupertino Civic Center. Guests will cycle up
McClellan Road to Stevens Canyon Road, near the site of the accident.

Those driving by car should go directly to the memorial site, as the road will be closed to automobile traffic once the bicyclists get under way. Shortly after 9 am there will be some brief comments and an unveiling of the plaques. In words provided by their families, there is one tablet for each rider:

In Loving Memory of
Kristy Gough
November 19, 1977 - March 9, 2008
FREE FROM LIMITATIONS & IMAGINARY LINES

Our hearts forever inspired by
Matthew Wayne Peterson
June 4, 1978 - March 9, 2008
RETHINK WHAT IS POSSIBLE

Please check the city web site for more detailed information as the event gets closer.

In case you do not remember this tragedy - http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/03/09/state/n152253D89.DTL&type=health

[Bike Goddess]

I wish I could be there. I'll see how I"m doing. It's a bit far away from here.

Next year perhaps Cupertino would be interested in promoting Ride of Silence. It is done all over the world to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured on the road. You'll find info on the internet about it.

It's great that the city is doing this memorial. So many of these types of accidents become ancient history about a week later. This says something for your hometown.

[andtckrtoo]

Nancy - we actually did do the ride of silence and there was a huge turn out. I think this accident hit very close to home as a sheriff's officer hit the cyclists at 10AM on an extremely well traveled road (a road I ride all the time) - he was headed in the opposite direction and hit them head on. Rumor has it that he fell asleep (darker rumors that he was still drunk from a party the night before - but that is pure speculation and unproven - that he fell asleep - he is on record saying that after the accident).

Cupertino and many of the cities nearby are big cycling communities. I do plan to ride, simply to lend my support and my encouragement for such a ride. I like that Cupertino is doing this.