Families of cyclists killed in Waukesha County join Ride of Silence
They will be silent to be noticed.
At nine locations around Wisconsin, cyclists will start pedaling at 7 p.m. Wednesday as part of the international Ride of Silence, slow-moving memorials to bikers killed and injured on the road.
By grieving and riding quietly, they hope to remind motorists and fellow bicyclists to follow the law and share the road.
The consequences of not doing so will be exemplified with emotion in Waukesha, where the widows and families of two men killed in crashes last year will join the riders.
Brett Netke, 42, was hit by a car while riding on Highway 18 in the Village of Summit on Father’s Day, May 20.
Jeff Littmann, 56, was hit by a car while riding on Wisconsin Ave. in Nashotah on Oct. 1.
They were among the nine bicyclists killed in crashes with motor vehicles in Wisconsin in 2010.
“I’ll be there to support Darlene (Netke) and to put a face to what has happened, just so that people know this is life and death,” said Rachel Bishop, Netke’s sister. “I want people to know that this has been a major disruption for everyone involved.”
Bishop will travel from Holland, Mich., to join the memorial with Netke’s widow and his children, Tyer, 8, Alyssa, 6, and Gabrielle, 4.
“My hope and my prayer for Darlene is she gets some peace from this, and some comfort,” Bishop said. “I hope she can see that people are standing up for some sort of awareness, and for safety on the road.
“It won’t heal her completely. Nothing will. But I hope this will, a little bit.”
Littmann’s widow, Kelly James-Littmann, said she hopes motorists will notice the memorial ride and remember to be more watchful and more compassionate. That might help ease the fears she has for her children, Ashley and Michael James, two cyclists who train and compete like their stepfather.
The Ride of Silence started in Texas in 2003, in memory of Larry Schwartz, a cyclist who was hit and killed by the mirror of a school bus. Rides are expected to take place this year in 150 locations.
In Waukesha, the Spring City Spinners Bicycle Club will host its memorial event for a second year. The ride will start at the Waukesha State Bank, 151 E. St. Paul Ave.
Similarly, this will be year two for the ride starting at the Wheel & Sprocket store in Fox Point.
The Warshafsky Law Office helped coordinate the ride in Fox Point and promoted the cause with a list of five bicycle-related laws motorists should know. Topping the list is the requirement that motorists provide three feet of clearance when passing a cyclist.
The driver who killed Brett Netke was ticketed for failing to yield the three feet and paid a $114 fine.
On a more basic point, the participants want to remind drivers that they have a right to be on the road.
In addition to the events listed above, rides will be held in Appleton, Green Bay, Lake Geneva, Madison, Oshkosh, Racine and Viroqua. Details can be found at www.rideofsilence.org.
70 Comments for "Families of cyclists killed in Waukesha County join Ride of Silence"
of the crosswalk, while I crossed a street on my bike, in a crosswalk, WITH a
GREEN LIGHT and a WALK SIGN. She nearly hit ME, I had a green light, she
had red, and I got the angry honk. What is wrong here?
runner chick May 17, 2011 7:46 AM
beadhead May 17, 2011 8:09 AM
okiefo May 17, 2011 8:16 AM
milwmaverick May 17, 2011 8:21 AM
Here is a good start:
http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/vehicle/bicycle/rules.htm
There are links all over the page for further explanation.
Really, all it takes is consideration, patience and respect.
yellingatclouds May 17, 2011 8:27 AM
I lost a good friend last year to a drunk driver killing her while she was riding her bike. She always followed the rules of the road, wore a helmet and had lights for her bike. She was even riding in a specific bike lane and still got killed.
SCGCan May 17, 2011 8:48 AM
skyjack May 17, 2011 9:52 AM
dkleinm May 17, 2011 9:57 AM
Everyone needs to share the road, be observant, and slow down when passing smaller vehicles. It is such a simple concept to think a little bit about others on the road and not just yourself. Why does it seem so hard for some people to even consider, let alone master?
Tom Held - see if you can get the new posting login on items like this in the future. Maybe it will reduce some of the vitriol that these articles almost always seem to generate.
TosaArch May 17, 2011 10:01 AM
T. Held May 17, 2011 10:19 AM
... and cyclists wonder why they are getting hit, and play victim... I feel if the vehicle you are on (including bikes, and mopeds)cannot obtain the speed limit on that road, then it should not be on it. I like riding for fitness, but I will pick and choose where I ride, as to not become a safety concern for other automobiles, as well as myself.
ntwrkurwrld May 17, 2011 10:25 AM
And yes, sidewalks are not safe for bicycles- there's pedestrians as well as dogs and long leashes to dodge.
mkegirl May 17, 2011 10:33 AM
linkslvr May 17, 2011 10:40 AM
My suggestion, in this case is (as always) take your time and slow down behind them and when the left lane is clear or the oncoming lane is clear, pass them safely, just like passing any slow moving vehicle such as farm equipments, mopeds, disabled cars, grandmas/grandpas.
In the meantime, for the people in the slow moving vehicles (i.e bikes), your job is to be aware of things behind you. If you are impeding traffic and there are cars wanting to pass you, it is your responsibility safely move your vehicle/s (or form a single file if you are in a group of bicyclist) to the right most portion of the lane. This will give the motorist a chance to pass you safely.
When cresting a hill, I usually stay closer to the middle of the lane, this way the car will not pass me when we both do not know what is on the other side of the hill. Once we crest (or i see that there is no oncoming traffic), I move over to the right and give them a wave "OK". I have seen more close calls when cars pass bicyclist without seeing what is oncoming (on a 2-lane road). Again, all it takes is patience.
yellingatclouds May 17, 2011 10:41 AM
TosaArch May 17, 2011 10:47 AM