SERIOUS emotional advice needed - What would you do???

[Eden]

That's kind of interesting - I wonder if the driver and his family really think that they will ever be able to forget? Causing someone's death, accidental or not does not strike me as something that a person would ever be able to sweep under the carpet.
That said, I highly doubt facing the mother personally would be productive. She's obviously pretty emotional about it and its pretty unlikely that she's going to have her mind changed. (I would bet she feels that any criticism of her son is very much an attack on herself) If she's confronted she's probably more likely to just dig in more, get more emotionally wound up and it would end up pretty badly. A well thought out letter might just end up in the trash, but still has a better chance to get through. When people decide they've been attacked, they can get so caught up in the emotioal part that they really start to believe some pretty outrageous things - so it doesn't matter how logical you are or how correct you are.

[Zen]

Do you have any contacts that might be able to get a story into the paper?
the story I have in mind might be accompanied by a photo of a gathering at the site of the memorial Share The Road sign and focus on the effort that's been put into having these signs made and placed throughout the area. It would explain the tragedy that was the impetus without even mentioning the driver. Focus on the positive.
This woman has no conscience and no shame. she reminds me of the fanatic religious group that protests at the funerals of homosexual Iraq war soldiers.

[Mr. Bloom]

Do you have any contacts that might be able to get a story into the paper?

There was a great story about the share the road campaign last Sunday's front page (before the negative press on the lawsuits hit).


Signs meant to help cyclists
By Gavin Lesnick (Contact)
Sunday, September 30, 2007

Jim Bush can list a world of reasons why his friend and fellow cyclist, Sam Wolf II, should still be alive.

Wolf was killed Oct. 1, 2006, during the Great Pumpkin Metric Ride when a Jeep collided with his bicycle on St. Philip Road in rural Posey County.

The weather that day was bright and sunny, Bush recalled, the accident occurred in mid-morning with plenty of light, Wolf was wearing a bright yellow jersey, the collision happened at a wide-open intersection with no visual barriers and it was during a large, organized ride.

"For any reason, that accident probably shouldn't have happened," Bush said. "But it did."

That's why Bush and a group of supporters are raising money and calling for local officials to install "Share the Road" signs on roadways frequented by cars and bicycles.

Builds awareness

It started as an effort to build awareness for bicycle safety while also honoring Wolf by installing the signs at the intersection where his accident occurred.

Those went up this spring, but since then, Bush and others have raised money to put the signs throughout the greater Evansville area.

As the anniversary of Wolf's death approaches and as more than 900 cyclists gear up for the first Pumpkin ride since the mishap, Bush has purchased more than 50 signs, including 26 set to go up around Vanderburgh County in the coming weeks.

"When we lost our friend, we wanted to try and make a positive out of a negative, out of our loss," Bush said. "Share the road signs are one way we thought we could do that."

The program has multiple goals, Bush said.

On one level, the mere presence of the signs will alert motorists and make them more aware that bicyclists need space, too. As communities grow, Bush said many quiet country roads are turning into busy thoroughfares or are used by motorists as shortcuts, so the need is increasingly there.

The signs also make a statement that the community supports healthy lifestyles and promotes safe exercise options, which Bush said is a quality of life issue. It could encourage people to move here or businesses to locate here, he said.

"It's kind of a ripple effect," Bush said. "Not necessarily that a sign can change all that, but if it's something to show progress in that direction, I think it's a worthwhile step."

Between the pole, the nuts and bolts and two metal signs (one reading "Share the Road" and one with a small icon of a bicycle), each sign costs about $50.

The fundraising efforts started with a display at the North Side Bob's Gym, where Bush works as a trainer. It grew through word-of-mouth and e-mail to various cycling enthusiasts and then again when Bush partnered with the Indiana Bicycle Coalition to promote the cause.

Permission sought

That provided funds to buy 53 of the signs, though before any could be placed, Bush had to seek permission from the governing bodies in each locality.

In Vanderburgh County, where signs will be placed soon along Oak Hill, Browning and Boonville-New Harmony roads, that meant going in front of the County Commissioners and pitching the plan.

It was an easy sell, Bush said, because there was lit-tle cost to the county.

The commissioners embraced the idea and voted to approve it unanimously.

"It's a great project," said Democratic Commissioner Troy Tornatta. "It's just unique that you have somebody with the passion that Jim and the people helping him have. We welcome that. And we want to be a leader to show we care about fitness and safety."

Posey commissioners also approved the signs, and Bush will soon seek approval from Newburgh and Warrick County officials to place them on roadways there.

In addition to the signs, Bush is spearheading a series of public service announcements that will appear soon on television and in print. Those will serve to remind motorists and bicyclists of the rules for respecting one another's space and keeping each other safe.

Both efforts will continue as long as possible, Bush said, as supporters strive to make a real difference in the community.

Whether it prevents a future tragedy may never be known, but Bush said he's confident his efforts can make a big difference.

And he can do it for a good friend.

"If I can do something to make a positive out of (Sam's) loss, then his loss is not in vain," he said. "That's what I'm working toward."



Here's the negatively received article:
http://www.courierpress.com/news/200...bposey-driver/

[Trek420]

This woman has no conscience and no shame. she reminds me of the fanatic religious group that protests at the funerals of homosexual Iraq war soldiers.

I was thinking the same thing. And you're thinking the followers of Phred Felps. They show up at any funeral of any veteran, not just the soldiers who bat for the other team but fight for our team . So much so that there's a group of bikers as in motorcycle riders who organize escorts on request to line the funeral route so the demonstration is not seen and the soldiers family see respect and support not screaming fanatics and hate.

www.patriotguard.org

I remember the memorial bike ride to my cousins funeral, over a hundred riders and the sense I had especially as we neared the church that drivers slowed, drove with us, along side us and seemed protective of the riders.

We need something like that. Maybe on the Ride of Silence near you? Drivers, pedestrians and cyclists together.