Ghost Bike memorial for Merril Cassell and rally to support Merril’s Law
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- November
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The Westchester Putnam Biking and Walking Alliance and Westchester Cycle Club have worked with Merrill Cassell’s
family 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.










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