Vigil planned following fatal accident

Sunday morning I was riding my bike to the State Parks as I do many days. As I headed south on the bike path approaching the State Police Barracks, moving 19 mph on my e-assist bike, I failed to glance left.

Then I saw a car at the last minute. I locked up my brakes. The fat tires on my Specialized Como screech like car tires when they skid. A collision was averted, but relaxing on a bike, even for a moment can be deadly.

Early Monday morning, Yolanda Yvette Carr was riding her bike near 22nd Street and Niagara Avenue when she collided with a car that left the scene. The incident is being investigated as a homicide. Her family is raising money via GoFundMe to pay for her cremation and burial. You can donate here, https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-yolanda-carrs-service-and-cremation-…

Sunday afternoon, as I pedaled home, I got honked at twice by ignorant drivers. They expect cyclists to ride on the sidewalk or next to car doors rather than with traffic, in the road.

About 10 years ago, my high school friend Gary Grant died in a bike crash while completing a triathlon. Gary and I were alike in that we both had an even keel – there wasn’t much that could get under his skin when he was alive. There also isn’t much that gets under mine but rude motorist enrage me.

Monday, I received a press release from City Hall about the hit-and-run accident Details were scant.  Memories of screeching my tires, and Gary, flashed.

Niagara Falls Council Member Brian Archie rides his bike everywhere the same way I do. He is .leading a brief memorial and bike ride in Yolanda’s honor at 10 a.m. Saturday, leaving from from Niagara and 22nd. Please be there to show support. It could have been me, or Brian or any of the other people who prefer bikes to cars.

GoBike Buffalo is hot on this topic. Here’s what it had to offer:

“That cyclist died.

“1 - The headline here should read 'Another driver murders a cyclist and leaves the scene' rather than indicating the woman that died may have shared any responsibility because she was on an e-bike. Standard bikes can go just as fast. We need to call attention to the violent crime, not the type of bike.

“2 - This is ANOTHER death of a cyclist our community. This is the deadliest summer in recent memory, and we have to say ENOUGH.

“- Enough with the violent rhetoric toward cyclists and pedestrians

“- Enough with the unchecked reckless driving in every city and town in WNY

“- Enough with the drivers who leave the scene of a fatal crash going uncaptured for weeks

“- Enough with city and town leadership prioritizing car speed over safety of all users, refusing to consider design changes in their systems to save lives.”