The ghost bikes of Paul Merges (11/24/12) and Diva De Loayza (6/6/07) now have augmented decorations.
Ghost Bikes Decorated for Christmas
Filed under Activism
Cyclists and Others Gather to Dedicate the Ghost Bike for Paul Merges
Thirty-two people attended the dedication of Paul Merges’ ghost bike. His cousin Mike and Laurie, Mikes’s wife started the ceremony by lighting a candle and speaking on behalf of the Merges family. Several others made comments about the need for safety on the roads or in sympathy for the family. Two members of Albany’s Common Council attended and one of them spoke. Twelve bicycle riders then rode silently from the ghost bike on Washington Ave. and Manning Blvd to Washington Park.
Merges was struck down by a drunken driver on 
Saturday, November 24, 2012.
Drunks and Death
(This is written just after returning from the funeral home visitation for Paul J. Merges, a cyclist brutally run down by a drunk at Central and Manning early Saturday, November 24.)
With installation of a ghost bike for Paul, we will have experienced a 50 percent mortality rate of cyclists due to drunks on the road. In addition to Paul and according to my records, drunks killed the following:
- Jose Perez – August 3, 2006 (age 60; bicyclist killed by SUV on Quay St. near Broadway, Albany)
- Joel Melnikoff – July 3, 2006 (age 49; bicyclist killed by car on Rt. 32, Bethlehem)
- Robert F. Zayhowski – July 16, 2000 (age 43; bicyclist killed by SUV on Rt. 66, SandLake)
Some may also recall that the spouse of an ABC member was run down from behind and injured by drunks on Madison Ave. near Washington Park.
(The other ghost bikers were Nicholas Richichi – 2007, Diva De Loayza – 2007, Alan R. Fairbanks – 2006, and David Ryan – 2004.)
Some may also recall that the spouse of an ABC member was run down from behind and injured by drunks on Madison Ave. near Washington Park.
As this is written, the perp now sits in jail (on your check). He tested out at twice the legal limit. I urge each reader to monitor how this case progresses through the (re-elected) DA’s office and what punishment is handed down. You might also consider those county and state legislators (that Albanians persist in re-electing) to see what they do to remove drunks from the road permanently.
As a closing note, the funeral parlor waiting line extended out of the viewing room, down the hall, up the stairs, down another hall, into the main hall to the front door and then wound around to the back door. Paul’s father, mother, brothers, sister-in-law, children, nieces and nephews, and other relatives were in the reception line and viewing room. Paul’s father expressed his gratitude to ABC and even had enough courage to state, “you people should be able to ride the streets in safety.” See also the ABC Letter to the Editors.
Filed under Article
Capital Holiday Lights Bicycle Ride – Sunday, December 16, 4:45 – 5:45 pm
Capital Lights in the Park 2012
The “Capital Holiday Lights in the Park” bicycle ride in Albany will be Sunday, December 16, 4:45 to 5:45 pm. This is a special time just for bicycles with no cars. Ride the loop as many times as you want.Donation – $5/bike and $10/family. Proceeds benefit Albany PAL’s bicycle helmet program. For more information about the Albany Police Athletic League and the Capital Holiday Lights, visit www.albanypal.org and www.albanycapitalholidaylights.com.
If you want to warm up beforehand, the Park View Pub is on the corner of Madison and New Scotland and the Stewarts’ is a little south on New Scotland. We may stop afterward, so bring a lock, lights, and cold-weather gear.
Filed under Article
Whiners and Complainers (and Keep Off Those Heels Too!)
A reader of the July-August 2012 League of American Bicyclists’ “American Bicyclist” complained that the magazine featured a rider in flip-flops. The writer’s statement is as follows (November-December 2012 issue): “Riding in flip-flops is dangerous. Featuring riders with helmets and flip-flops sends a distorted message implying safe riding conditions when, in fact, those flip-flops are a hazard to the person wearing them AND those riding along side the flip-flopper. Please stress the danger of riding in flip-flops and the importance of safe riding head and foot gear.”
The offending picture was clearly composed for the article and featured riders out for a causal cruise. (To view the image, click the above LAB link and page through to page 10 of the July-August issue.)
This kind of nonsense raises multiple questions:
- What exactly is the danger of flip-flops? Frostbite? Dirty feet?
- Is there a case of flip-flops causing death?
- What is the danger to “those riding along-side the flip-flopper”?
- If head and footgear is so critical – what about elbow, shoulder and kneepads, leather pants and jacket, and (even) gloves? How about a handle-bar-mounted air bag?
- Where is the distortion in the message? Even allowing for the helmet, why should not the rider be comfortable?
With so many more critical safe riding issues – rider education, bicycle maintenance, traffic control, motor vehicle traffic enforcement, road maintenance – it is regrettable that this level of criticism even gets printed.
No Heels Please!
Filed under Article
Albany Bicycle Coalition 