Letter: Recent bike fatality

Letter: Recent bike fatality

Heather Neville
St Augustine, FL

Dear Editor,

My heart hurts this morning for the loss of yet another cyclist, and to a hit and run again.

I can only imagine the horror of the witnesses as they saw this person’s life lost.

The family and friends of Christian Schroom will now face the same sad time as Bryan Wrigley’s have in recent years.

They will be left wondering how this happened and why someone would leave their loved one there to die.

This is yet another example of why our organization, Velo Fest Community Initiative, is so critical for the City of St Augustine, City of St Augustine Beach and all St Johns County.

How many more lives must be lost before everyone understands how important and how big a responsibility and what a privilege it is to drive a car.

For the past year and a half there has been a death every 6 months, with Christian, Bryan, Jared, and Tyler just trying to get to work or school, to exercise, etc.

I write this letter publicly requesting that the county, city and all residents work with us to improve our roads for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.

We have had success partnering with the Tourist Development Council on the St Johns County Bike Route Map, and with the Florida Department of Transportation executing on a successful shared lane marking education program for the Bridge of Lions Sharrows.

But now we need to focus even more.

If anyone is interested in getting involved in making our roads safer, please find us on Facebook, on our website at www.vclofest.org or email me director@vclofest.org.

We have already gotten a bicycle donated, and will be placing it as a Ghost Bike at Arredondo and Anastasia.

This Ghost Bike will serve as a reminder of the responsibility that we all have to make the roads a safe place for motorists and cyclists alike.

Thank you for your time. See you on the road.