2007-01-07 - NYC Cyclists Take Memorial Ride - WINS radio

WINS radio
January 7, 2007

NEW YORK -- Cyclists took to the streets Sunday to remember those who died while riding their bikes last year.

More than 100 cyclists were riding to sites around the city and were heading toward the "Memorial for Unknown Cyclists" at Lafayette and Houston streets in Manhattan, organizers said.

The organizers, Time's Up! and Visual Resistance, placed bikes that were painted white and were marked with commemorative plaques at each of the 14 sites where riders are known to have died in 2006.

Volunteer Barbara Ross said the white bicycles served as memorials and as warnings that the streets were "still not safe."

The organizers of the ride want improved crash reporting by city agencies. They said there was a lack of accurate information on the number of people who died while riding their bikes in the city.

The city's Department of Transportation said it was the police department's responsibility to report such traffic accidents. The police department said its statistics on bicycle accidents were up to date and consistent with the number of calls involving injured cyclists to which it responded.