Advocacy & Safety - Ken Kifer killed by drunk

Many of you have no doubt heard of Ken Kifer and seen his rather extensive cycling website at www.kenkifer.com. We were just informed that Ken was killed by a drunk driver about 6 miles from his cabin near Scottsboro, Alabama. Ken was a dedicated carfree cyclist and advocate, and had written extensively about carfree life and his many long cross country bike trips.

I don't have any other details at this time.

Dave

This is awful news. I really enjoyed the WWW site.

My sympathy goes out to his family.

Please provide an update if you can.

Dan

I used Ken's site when I started to get into cycling. What a terrible loss to cycling.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

:(

A great loss to the cycling community.

Wow, what a loss to the whole cycling community. My condolences to his family and friends.

Sad to hear. I like his website.

Horrible news, i reaaly liked his website and i think i've read everything on it. almost feel like i knew him. very sad :(

:(

Wow...great web site!
I had never heard of him, very sad ;-(

FXjohn

Ken's site got me started on practical, dedicated cycling. I always enjoyed his stance on cycling issues and his no-nonsense approach to day-in/day-out riding. I hope his work is recorded for future cyclists to enjoy and learn from. This is a sad day indeed.

Ironically, his site was the last one I visited before I stopped by BF and found this thread. Keep on pedalin' in the sky, Ken.

Another reminder that there is between the two creatures, "drunk driver," and "human being." Kill 'em all; final solution, baby, final solution.

My god, what a loss. Ken was a wonderful, intelligent, dedicated, cyclist. My heart goes out to his family and to the whole cycling community.

Paul

Heckuva loss to the cycling community. Sad news to hear....

Oh no. This is awful.

I've read and been inspired by Ken's writings for years. I've exchanged a couple of emails with him. I feel like I know him, in person.

I'm really sorry. My deepest sympathies to his family, and friends.

At the risk of digressing from these thoughts, that rat b*stard who did this to him should rot in prison for _years_.

Cringing and shaking, a Palo Alto teenager received a maximum sentence of a year in county jail Thursday for running down two girls in her station wagon -- killing one and injuring the other -- and then fleeing the scene.



Tommy Chong, who played one half of the dope-smoking duo in the Cheech and Chong movies, asked for leniency from a judge Thursday but was sentenced to nine months in prison for conspiring to sell drug paraphernalia.


Where is the Justice?

Although I'm not familiar with Ken, I'm very saddened and know he'll be missed by many. I will also be reading his website and learn as much as I can from his experience. He souned like a very cool person.

Damn!

I just got home and read the news. So sad! What is going on? How long will people on bikes have to die before someone takes bad drivers seriously enough to impose maximum sentences, confiscation of their cars and licenses, and tough justice for the victims?

He was cool- when I was getting ready for my first tour, I contacted Ken and he gave me answers to some problems I was having with preparing for my tour. I really enjoyed his website, and I hope it lives on and becomes bigger than anyone ever could imagine and helps to make the public aware of tragedies like this.

RIP Ken Kifer...

Koffee Brown

I can't believe it!! This is awful. Is it really true? If you can post more info/news about this I'd really like to hear.

I have confirmed this with the Alabama State Troopers that worked the accident (murder). Ken was not killed instantly but died later at the hospital. Other details are sketchy since they are still investigating it.

The local newspaper did say that the driver was in custody with charges pending.

There is also a report on Ken's advocacy email list that the driver had just been released from jail for drunk driving only 4 hours prior to hitting Ken. If that turns out to be true . . .

Also, the lady from the local newspaper (a small town) said they were getting calls from all over the country. I had to confirm for her that indeed the Ken Kifer that lived there was in fact the one that ran www.kenkifer.com.

Dave

It would be a tragic loss had he died peacefully in his sleep. The bitter irony of the actual circumstances make Kifer's death hard to accept.

His site, and he himself in some memorable e-mail correspondence, were of great help and encouragement to me when I returned to serious transportational cycling after my heart problems several years ago. So he's right there on the "thank you" list of people who helped me get my life back.

All of us who feel entitled to our share of the road owe Ken and other advocates like him a debt of gratitute... and maybe a little help.

RichC

A strange mix of sadness and anger
Over the loss of a friend
Due to a careless stranger

I am deeply saddened and royally p1$$ed off. When Cece Krone was murdered by Michele Young, who had been driving drunk at 10 a.m. with her 10-year-old son in the car with her, I wrote letters to the judge and the D.A., advocating against any leniency. Ms. Young, who received a 7-year jail sentence, may soon qualify for parole. :mad: If anyone can get the relevant information, I would be honored to do the same for Ken. I am also increasing my annual MADD contribution by $100 this year, in Ken's name, as I did for Cece.

I would also like the information to send a letter to the district attorney- I would like to send a letter about the animal that murdered Ken if anyone can get the information.

Koffee

I always recomend Ken's web site to new bicycle riders. The ammount and variety of bicycling information is truly amazing. I also enjoyed his pages on Walden. Thye world is a darker, sadder place with his death. I hope that the drunk who killed him gets justice.

Motor vehicles are weapons of mass destruction, and not just in the hands of drunks. All drivers who drive at excessive speeds, or drive distracted due to cell phone use, eating, reading, putting on makeup, shaving, etc. while driving, are just as dangerous as the true drunk drivers. Cyclists are not the only victims. Beyond actual physical injury and death, motor vehicles degrade our physical and emotional environment in myriad other ways. Please support International Car Free Day in whatever way you can. September 22, 2003.

http://www.22september.org/

I am in shock! Since reading this post early in the day I have just been numb! What a loss, how much sorrow?:(

When is this country going to start treating driving under any kind of influence as the kind of crime it is? The use and ownership of an auto has moved into a right and not a privilage type of mind set. Driving is not taken serously by most drivers!!! Drivers have only to show the most fundamental competence to obtain a liscense, and then are never required to prove they are fit to keep said liscense!

This could happen to any of us, any day! Be on guard!

To his family, my thoughts and prayers.

I am sitting here in disbelief at reading this. This is just tragic, and it really puts the word "tragic" into perspective (more on that when I've collected some thoughts). I think someone mentioned that the drunk responsible had been out of prison for just four hours when it happened, if so, what were they doing driving?

My deepest sympathies go out to his family and all close to him.

This is just too terrible for words.:(

I've read his site many times and his unique and well explained views will be missed.

As I hit the www.madd.org website tonight, I learned that MADD gives special recognition to memorials in proportion to their monetary size. Instead of contributing individually, would anyone be interested in collectively raising, say, $500 or even $1500 for a Bike Forums sponsored memorial to Ken through MADD? I shall be honored to put my money where my keyboard is by opening with an ante of $100. Perhaps Joe can arrange to have MADD pool designated contributions from BF members. A large memorial just might provide us with some much-needed PR for the plight of bicyclists and pedestrians killed by drunk drivers.

John, I would be more then glad to help wherever i can.

I just read the news on the i-bob list a few minutes ago. I am devastated, lost for words.

Why does it always happen to good people?

My thoughts are with his family and friends.

:(

Ken's site was the first cycling site I visited when we first got a computer , a lot of his philosofies & out looks into cycling have changed & influenced my own attitude & outlook to-ward our passion. Very sad , very sad indeed . Rest in peace Ken.

What a tragic loss... :(

I am saddened and shocked by this news. I would like his local community to know how much he meant to cyclists around the world. Could anyone post name of his local newspaper, so we can send public messages of condolance to his friends and family?

Originally posted by John E
As I hit the www.madd.org website tonight, I learned that MADD gives special recognition to memorials in proportion to their monetary size. Instead of contributing individually, would anyone be interested in collectively raising, say, $500 or even $1500 for a Bike Forums sponsored memorial to Ken through MADD? I shall be honored to put my money where my keyboard is by opening with an ante of $100. Perhaps Joe can arrange to have MADD pool designated contributions from BF members. A large memorial just might provide us with some much-needed PR for the plight of bicyclists and pedestrians killed by drunk drivers.

This is a fine idea. Count me in.

RichC

Latest update:

Here's the story in the Scottsboro Daily Sentinel

http://www.thedailysentinel.com/story.lasso?wcd=165

Identity of biker killed remains unclear

By Mazie Aldrich
The Daily Sentinel

Published September 16, 2003

A Scottsboro man was killed Saturday night as the result of a car-bicycle
accident.

According to the Alabama State Troopers, Kenneth Kiefer, 57, was killed when
he was struck by a 1986 Chevrolet driven by Jimmy Don Rodgers, 29, of
Scottsboro. Juanita Turner, 38, a passenger of the Rodgers' vehicle was also
injured in the 7:48 p.m. accident.

Kiefer was a cyclist often seen riding in the area. The incident happened on
Jackson County Road 21 in the Pikeville area, three miles north of
Scottsboro. Kiefer was taken to Huntsville Hospital where he died a short
time later.

Rodgers was arrested by Alabama State Trooper Terry Thomas and charged with
first-degree assault and driving under the influence. He was taken to the
Jackson County Jail. Rodgers was just recently released from jail, after a
Sept. 1 arrest for second-degree possession of marijuana, possession of drug
paraphernalia and illegal possession of an alcoholic beverage. He has prior
arrests for a host of misdemeanor charges including leaving the scene of an
accident.

News of the cyclist killed spread quickly throughout the cycle world Monday.
Numerous calls and emails to the Daily Sentinel identified the victim as Ken
Kifer, a world class cyclist and author who lives near Scottsboro in a small
cabin.

While cyclists believe it was Kifer who died in the accident, the Alabama
State Troopers report the name was actually Kiefer and could not confirm or
deny that it was the same person.

Attempts to locate Kifer were unsuccessful. Kifer maintains a website
(www.kenkifer.com) that prominently mentions his Scottsboro home.


I spoke with the folks at the paper and let them know this is the Ken of kenkifer.com.

Also, some have asked about arrangement or where to send flowers, etc. I received the following from Ken's sister-in-law:



Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 02:13:26 -0000
From: "tanya" <tbrecht@uiuc.edu>
Subject: Ken Kifer

Hello all,

I'm Ken Kifer's daughter-in-law. I came to this group hoping to get
word to the online biking community about his death, but it seems
that the news has already reached it. Nathan and I very much want to
keep his website up, but as we both tend toward Ludditism neither of
us knows how to do this. I noticed one post (I'm sorry, I've
forgotten the name of the poster,) who offered to host it. We would
love it if someone could continue his site and legacy.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been decided. We're not sure
whether to bury him in a plot his father purchased him a few years
ago, or to scatter his ashes in the woods he so dearly loved.
Arrangements are being made through Callyer Butler Funeral Home in
Gasden AL.

I'm in shock, and don't know what else to write at this point. Ken
was such a wonderful person...

Please feel free to send this message to whoever cared about Ken and
would like to read it. I know he had many friends on the internet,
and I have no way to know how to contact them.

Tanya Brecht
(I kept my maiden name)

Hmmmm... she's at UIUC. I'm going to contact her at the university and see what we can do about perhaps working on getting someone to help her maintain the website, offer up condolences, and also talk to her about the BF MADD contribution. She's just a few miles away from me, I think.

Koffee

Tanya,

I have found Ken to be a personal inspiration. As a college student, his site was the only one that communicated the practicality and simplicity that can be reached in touring. His stories are what got me inspired to start cycling.

I would be honored to host KenKifer.com, including his writings and philosophical pages. I'm sad.

-john feeney

All,
It appears that this is the contact information for the Services:

Collier-Butler Funeral Home
824 Rainbow Drive
Gadsden, AL 35901
Phone: (256) 543-2140
Fax: (256) 543-2143

never met Ken but he's touched me as well,
he'll be missed,
Marty

I have been on contact with Ken's webhost and Tanya, kens daugter in law, so we can keep Ken's site online. I have seen a few other people make this offer on some of the newsgroups, if anyone has these contacts, can you forward them to my email address? bikeforums@yahoo.com . Thanks.

The penalty for killing someone with a car while drunk seems to run the spectrum. A few years ago in the Nags Head North Carolina area a drunk driver, a young woman with a lengthy record, ran a red light and killed four teenaged girls. The driver, who was not seriously injured got life without possibility of parole. Now, that's a sentence! She deserves every minute and much more!

Unfortunately, stiffer sentences will do little to stop the next drunk driver from getting behind the wheel. These people are irresponsible by nature. Nothing will stop them short of a long stretch in the slammer. The answer is to throw the book at these people on the first offence, before they kill someone. Even with that, we are only safe from them while they are locked up.

If anyone here lives in the area, please try to track this case in court, and post the names of the DA and the judge. I would be honored to submit a treatise advocating that the motorist receive the maximum penalty under the law. Please also contact the relevant local MADD chapter for legal help. Let's fry this guy!

Joe -- Whoever takes over kenkifer.com should consider writing a carefully-worded memorial message on the front page, so that visitors know that Ken is no longer with us. This will be tough, since one of Ken's principal goals was to debunk the "cycling is dangerous" mentality.

Originally posted by John E
Whoever takes over kenkifer.com should consider writing a carefully-worded memorial message on the front page, so that visitors know that Ken is no longer with us. This will be tough, since one of Ken's principal goals was to debunk the "cycling is dangerous" mentality.

Yeah, this could be used in a poor, yet sensational, argument to dispute his idea of cycling is safe.

The issue really is drunk driving. The driver could have killed a pedestrian or another driver. Just because Ken was on his bike at the time really doesn't mean the bike was the problem.

Originally posted by closetbiker
The issue really is drunk driving. The driver could have killed a pedestrian or another driver. Just because Ken was on his bike at the time really doesn't mean the bike was the problem.

We can't emphasise that point strongly enough.

i used his site, i read almost all his articles, logs, and his story that i think he made (a new world). he was a smart person. i look up to him. i never knew him but a great hole in my heart is causing me great sadness. RIP KEN KIFFER.

Note: We lost close to 50 posts in this thread. I have them on my computer, and will work on getting thoes posts back up soon.

Thanks, Joe for keeping us informed.

John