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Bicycling in the Lower Hudson Valley

Ghost Bike memorial for Merril Cassell and rally to support Merril’s Law

November
30

The Westchester Putnam Biking and Walking Alliance and Westchester Cycle Club have worked with Merrill Cassell’s Merrill Cassellfamily and local politicians to hold a “Ghost Bike” ceremony to celebrate what would have been Cassell’s 67th birthday Dec. 5th at 11:00am. The Ghost Bike will be placed near the sight of his death on Route 119 and Aqueduct Road.

A rally will also be held to show support for “Merrill’s Law”, legislation introduced by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin which will require motorists to give cyclists three-feet of space when passing.

Here’s David Wilson’s letter to members. Hope to see you there.

Folks,

Cyclist Merrill Cassell on Nov. 9 was crushed and killed by a Beeline bus that sideswiped him as he rode legally on Route 119 as he turned onto Aqueduct Road by the Westchester County Center.

Join us Sat. Dec. 5 at 11 a.m. at the corner of Route 119 and Aqueduct Road to commemorate his death with the installation of a “ghost bike” memorial. His family is traveling from Florida for the installation.  Dec. 5 would have been Merrill’s 67th birthday.

We’ll also be there to show support for legislation to be introduced by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin of Scarsdale, called Merrill’s Law, which will require a three-foot buffer when motorists pass cyclists on the road. Fourteen other states, including Connecticut and New Jersey, have such laws.  The bill, which has yet to be given a bill number, already has seven co-sponsors, including local Assembly members Sandy Galef and Greg Ball, whose districts both include towns in northern Westchester and Putnam; and Mike Spano, of Yonkers.

Please contact other Assembly members  in the region to encourage them to back the bill.

George Latimer, latimeg@assembly.state.ny.us – Rye, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle.

Richard Brodsky – brodskr@assembly.state.ny.us – Greenburgh, Yonkers Gary Pretlow – pretloj@assembly.state.ny.us – Mount Vernon, Y onkers

We are still looking for a sponsor in the state Senate.  Local legislators are:

Vincent Leibell – leibell@senate.state.ny.us – northern Westchester and Putnam; Ruth Hassell Thompson – hassellt@senate.state.ny.us mount Vernon, yonkers, Bronx; Suzi Oppenheimer – oppenhei@senate.state.ny.us – from Mamaroneck, New Rochelle and Rye up through central Westchester to Ossining; Andrea Stewart Cousins – scousins@senate.state.ny.us – Yonkers, and Greenburgh.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 8:58 AM by Randall Wolf. Print This Post Print This Post | Email This Post Email This Post
Category: Advocacy, Bike, Commute, Commuting, Cycling, Three-foot law


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One Response to “Ghost Bike memorial for Merril Cassell and rally to support Merril’s Law”

  1. Ben

    To find your state assembly person go to
    http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/

    To find your state senator go to
    http://www.nysenate.gov/

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Randall Wolf Randall Wolf is Director of Photography at The Journal News/LoHud.com, and has ridden more than 80,000 miles on a bike during the past 35 years. Some of these miles include a three-week touring trip from Suburban Philadelphia to Nova Scotia and back at age 16 and a few years later a solo two-week trip to Montreal. In 1985, he photographed the first U.S.-based team in the Vuelta a Espana, a three-week professional cycling race throughout Spain. He has participated in professional teams and races throughout the U.S. including the national championship in Philadelphia, and Tour of Georgia. In the mid-Ô90s he competed as an amateur racer throughout the Northeast. Bike commuting was his choice of transportation while working in Baltimore and Toronto. He is a ride leader and member of the Westchester Cycling Club and Rockland Bike Club, and lives in Garrison with his wife.
About the authors
Robert Brum Robert Brum, an assistant metro editor for The Journal News/LoHud.com and The Rockland Express, grew up cycling the roads of Rockland County. He now lives in Queens and rides with the Long Island Bicycle Club. Brum logs between 2,000 and 3,000 miles a year cycling throughout the Northeast.
David Schloss David Schloss is the co-founder and president of the Rockland Bicycling Club. A lifelong cyclist and self-described bicycling addict, Schloss is also a professional writer, photographer and educator, he is also the director of a group that supports photographers, which allows him to travel the globe, sneaking in rides.
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