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"
This one i cant find an answer to...ive searched: Can anyone check whether it is ok to pass a 'slow moving vehicle' when there is a double-solid-yellow line in the center of a two lane road?
This is my pet peeve that isn't clear to me. A car will slow down behind me for a long time and just stay there because they don't want tocross over the double-solid-yellow in the middle of the road. Normally, you cannot pass another car on this section of the road. But would you be able to pass a bike, farm equipment, moped...and other vehicles considered 'slow moving'...including disabled cars.?
yellingatclouds May 17, 2011 10:49 AM
Are you really suggesting a hit on the driver? Even joking about it is out of line.
sanselmo May 17, 2011 10:52 AM
Cyclists.....we bear the brunt of following the rules of the road. We are expected to stop at every stop sign, every red light. We need to wear our helmets at all times, ride as far right on the road as possible. Yes, on the road, sidewalks and so called bike paths are not an option for most. We have to set the example of doing the right things.
Drivers, all cyclists are drivers as well. Drivers have to be willing to take the extra few seconds to either slow down or pass cyclists cautiously. Those extra few seconds will not make you late for anything. Drivers who also break the rules of the road, neeed to follow them as well or be ticketd more often. For instance giving 3 feet clearance to a cyclist at all times. Buzzing a cyclist, just because it make you feel better, only creates more atimosity.
Sparky101 May 17, 2011 10:59 AM
Drivers have to understand that we have a right to be on these roads, just as much as they do. Unfortunately it only takes 1 bad driver to ruin a life for a cyclist. A cyclist can't harm a driver at all!!!! For that reason alone, drivers have to be more careful period. But like I've said above, no excuses for cyclists to follow the rules of the road as well.
Sparky101 May 17, 2011 11:04 AM
doniwen May 17, 2011 11:24 AM
"When you pass on a two lane road you must leave the right lane early enough and remain in the left lane long enough to pass without interfering with the other vehicle...Of course you cannot pass in a no passing zone designated by signs or a solid yellow line on the pavement on your side of the center line."
It makes no mention of special cases such as SMVs, so I'm assuming "no passing" means "no passing".
Funny this topic came up, as just yesterday I was stuck behind a tractor on a 2-lane road for almost a mile. I waited until the solid line disappeared from my side of the road before I changed lanes to pass him, and the cars behind me did the same.
Sedwick May 17, 2011 11:25 AM
I couldn't agree with you more. I wish more people remembered that
safety on the roads is a shared responsibility between cyclists and drivers
of all vehicles.
RY19 May 17, 2011 11:31 AM
As Sparky101 points out, all it takes for a driver to safely pass a cyclist is slowing down and giving some room and maybe giving up 3 seconds of their day. Cyclists have a legal right to be on the road.
Please remember when you approach a cyclist (going too slow or not far enough to the right for your liking) that is still another human being with a family and a life to live.
umgopher1 May 17, 2011 11:45 AM
lilahwi May 17, 2011 12:52 PM
Hope1 May 17, 2011 1:14 PM
jdiehn May 17, 2011 1:15 PM
And if bicyclists want to use the road, they should be paying a yearly/bi-yearly registration fee like any other vehicle on the road. Bicyclists seem to want the privilege of being on the road, but without any of the responsibilities.
GreatApe May 17, 2011 1:15 PM
If you see yourself described above, be warned: If, in your impatience, you injure or kill me, you will be sued. So, if the prospect of taking an innocent human life doesn't make you change your ways, perhaps the thought of your own financial ruin will...
youhavegotobekidding May 17, 2011 1:31 PM