A Stevensville-area bicycle club will hold a special memorial ride Thursday in honor of a member who was killed on the road this past weekend.
Pachyderm Pedalers President Greg Collins tells us 73-year-old Howard Kingsley was taking part in the group’s annual charity ride for Cycle ReCycle on Saturday when he was rear-ended by a driver on Jericho Road in Lake Township.
About 250 people were taking part in the charity ride, but Howard was riding alone at the time, as Collins says he usually rode. He says the group is devastated, and it’s going to use its regular Thursday evening ride to remember Howard and hopefully spread a message.
“The Berrien County sheriffs are going to come out and escort us around the 10 mile route planned for the tribute to Howard and passing by the scene of the accident,” Collins said. “We’re going to ride in silence in his honor and just remember him as the great person he was, how much he loved cycling and how much we all love cycling. And hopefully just to also make a statement of some sort that, hey, we’re human beings on the road and we appreciate what people pay attention to us and value our lives as much as theirs.”
Collins says group members often encounter impatient drivers who forget that bicyclists have the same right to the road as they do. He asks all drivers to remember there are real people riding those bikes and to be careful, giving riders at least three feet of space. He adds if anything good can come out Saturday’s crash, it’s the safety message.
The Pachyderm Pedalers will gather along Lawrence Street, by Watermark Brewing Company, in Stevensville starting at 5:45 p.m. Thursday. They’ll take off at 6. They’re inviting those who take part to wear Army yellow, like Howard Kingsley always did when riding.
Photo: Howard Kingsley.
