ACTC News

Memorial Dedication Ride

by Larry Bain (photos by Larry Bain and Bill Bushnell)

Oct. 18, 2008 – I was among several hundred cyclists who gathered at Cupertino City Hall on this brisk October morning for a somber ride up to the dedication of permanent memorials to for Kristy Gough and Matt Peterson.

The City of Cupertino has graciously created permanent plaque memorials for the two cyclists near site of their tragedy, along with a striking “Ghost Bike” structure (www.ghostbike.org) overlooking the vista near the entrance to Stevens Creek Park.  The Sheriff’s Department closed Steven’s Canyon Road to all vehicle traffic during the morning and also provided a motorcycle escort for the caravan of family and those of us that cycled from City Hall.

During the dedication we reflected on the moving words offered by the parents of Kristi and Matt which touched on many themes including the difficulty of coping with the tragedy for the many loved ones left behind, the preciousness and fragility of life, and the joy and inspiration that Kristy’s and Matt’s lives had brought to others.


As inscribed on their memorials:

In Memory of Kristy Gough
Free from Imaginary Lines and Limitations

In Memory of Matt Peterson
Rethink What is Possible

Colophon

Donec ac nisi in lectus euismod sodales. Suspendisse congue, arcu sit amet adipiscing scelerisque, enim neque ullamcorper dolor, sed viverra erat leo eu metus. Cras porttitor bibendum nunc.

Syndicate

Activity

2 total comments, leave your comment or trackback.
  1. John Pugliese
    Oct 25th 2008

    We stopped at it today on Mark Pryor’s ride (10/25) and I have to agree that it is a classy memorial. Everyone was saddened, yet impressed.

    I was there that day (just before the fire truck came) and am still bewildered. It’s nice to see so much support for this tragedy.

  2. Pat Parseghian
    Oct 26th 2008

    I wasn’t able to join the memorial ride, so I made a point of riding through the canyon the next day at the end of my ride.

    It was mid-afternoon, and I was the only cyclist – but while I was there, several vehicles stopped. The ghost bike makes a huge difference.

    As I approached, there was a man standing at the memorial. By the time I swung around, he had gotten back into his van. I imagined he had some connection to Matt or Kristy, but he didn’t. Instead of pulling away, he stayed to ask me about what had happened. I told him about Kristy and Matt, and about Jeff Steinwedel. Before I left, at least one more car pulled up, and a motorcycle.

    Cyclists will remember, and stop, for many years to come; I didn’t expect that of motorists. As we honor the memory of Matt, Kristy, and Jeff, perhaps we will also change some attitudes on the road for the better.


Leave a Reply


Search

The archives run deep. Feel free to search older content using topic keywords.