MichiganMike

I am here in Atlanta, and last night went out for another ride on the Silver Comet Trail. I was reminded that even a nice leisurely bike ride on a well traveled trail can end tragically. Along the trail is a memorial to a lady who was murdered while riding this trail last year. What was touching was the mass of water bottles left there by cyclists to memorialize this mother of three. Very sobering. I guess we need to be careful and aware at all times.

Beverly

I remember this incident well as it was discussed on a women's cycling yahoo group. She rode a 50 mile loop on the trail 3-4 times weekly. She was in the 50+ age group, too.

I seldom ride the trails alone unless I have the park radio with me. We sometimes encounter questionable characters beneath the bridges in the downtown area and in one of the parks. Of course, these type of people are everywhere and not just on the trails.

ang1sgt

Beverly,

What is a "PARK RADIO"?

Chris

Beverly

I volunteer with the park district and we carry radios to keep in contact with the park rangers and other law enforcement units in the county. When we start a ride we call in our planned route and then keep in contact until we finish the ride. They're very similar to the attached picture.

ang1sgt

Ah! The infamous "brick" from my USAF Days! That is a great idea for an organized ride. I know locally some of the ride leaders use the FRS Radios to keep the group together and as long as things don't string out too bad they work well.

Thanks,

Chris

Artkansas 

The Ride of Silence is coming up May 16, to honor such people. Check the link to see if there is one near you.

Beverly

I've done the local Ride of Silence in memory of a couple club member killed by a drunken driver. In this case it wasn't a cycling accident. The lady was ***** and murdered along the trail.
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/9583095/detail.html

MichiganMike

Yes, what really struck me was the large pile of waterbottles (not the ones you buy with the water in them, but the ones you buy to keep on your bike) that are piled next to the cross out there.

jm01

that's sad...rather than water bottles, we do this in Toronto

MichiganMike

Oh wow.

jm01

They're called "ghost bikes" and sadly, we're seeing more of them

stapfam

Have a couple of spots on our local Mup where cycling friends have died of Heart Attacks. Only problem is that if you highlight a spot with bottles or other cycling items- They will get nicked or Desecrated by the druggies that get on the mup at night. We have had to stick to traditional Flowers on the aniversaries.