The Albany Bicycle Coalition’s 11th annual Ride of Silence was on Wednesday, 5/16/18 to coincide with the national ride. The 22 riders met at the Albany Riverfront Park/Row Center and at the Capital Park-Education Building. There were new memorial sites at N. Pearl/Wilson Sts. and Washington Ave. Ext. (or 6-Mile Park).
We visited the sites asterisked below and left flowers at each. There is a sign at each site with the late cyclist’s name and year of death.
At the Diva De Loayza (Western Ave.) site, we went around the group with each rider stating the person’s name and date of death. Three of our riders who had relatives killed while riding offered their thoughtful and inspirational comments.
The Roger Sawyer site on Washington Ave. Extension was not conducive to riding although his ghost bike is now installed at the crash site. As an alternative, we held a brief remembrance at the entrance to Six-Mile Trail on Fuller Rd. where Roger’s sign is also displayed.
Nicholas Richichi’s ghost bike (Fuller Rd.) has been repainted.
The 2019 ride will be on Wednesday, May 15.
Please remember your fellow riders:
- * Edston J. Kirnon – July 22, 2017 (age 42) Bicyclist collided with side of CDTA bus, N. Pearl St., Albany
- * Roger L. Sawyer – October 19, 2017 (age 31) Bicyclist run down by SUV, Washington Ave. Ext., Albany
- John J. Cummings – January 27, 2016 (age 65) Bicyclist
- run down from behind and killed, Amsterdam Rd., Glenville
- Robert Agne, DVM – September 7, 2015 (age 54) Bicyclist
- killed by sleeping driver who crossed centerline, Rt. 30 Pawlet, VT
- Stephen Nolan – June 2, 2014 (age 53) Bicyclist killed by
- car, King & Federal Sts., Troy
- Brian Bailey – March 11, 2014 (age 37) Bicyclist killed by truck, Route 9W, Ravena
- Matthew Ratelle – December 20, 2012 (age 40) Bicyclist killed by impaired driver, Rt. 22, Petersburg
- * Paul J. Merges, Jr. – November 24, 2012 (age 45) Bicyclist killed by drunken driver/pickup truck, Manning Blvd. & Roosevelt St., Albany
- * Nicholas Richichi – October 19, 2007 (age 53), Bicyclist killed by motor coach, Fuller Rd., Colonie
- * Diva De Loayza – June 6, 2007 (age 40) Bicyclist killed by car, Western Ave. at Homestead Ave., Albany
- Alan R. Fairbanks – October 29, 2006 (age 72) Bicyclist hit by car/died, Rt. 5-S at bicycle path, Rotterdam)
- * Jose Perez – August 3, 2006 (age 60) Bicyclist killed by SUV, Broadway at Quay St., Albany.
- Joel Melnikoff – July 3, 2006 (age 49) Bicyclist killed by drunken driver, Rt. 32, Bethlehem
- David Ryan – June 29, 2004 (age 32) Bicyclist killed by reckless driver, Riverview Rd., Rexford
- Robert F. Zayhowski – July 16, 2000 (age 43) Bicyclist killed by drunken driver/SUV, Rt. 66, Sand Lake
ABC’s using the 10-Year Anniversary logo since we are on record as having conducted the Albany ROS each year for that period. Going back those 10 years from this year’s ride date (5/17), we have lost John J. Cummings (1/27/16), Robert Agne, Stephen Nolan, Brian Bailey, Matthew Ratelle, and Paul J. Merges (11/24/12). That’s 1 every 20 months. Four of the six died by virtue of bad behavior by people in cars. See for complete annotated list and photos at – 
conducted the Albany ROS each year for that period.
y 17. We will visit the ghost bike sites in the City of Albany and Colonie. Your participation honors cyclists killed or injured in collisions with automobiles. Last year, there were 445 Rides of Silence in all 50 States plus 48 countries on 7 continents. Our silence during the ride promotes safety awareness and mutual respect on the road.
kless driver, Riverview Rd., Rexford
Albany Bicycle Coalition 