The cyclist killed by a truck yesterday in Charles North has been identified as Jack Yates. My wife/ElRo used to work for the nonprofit on whose board he was a member, and she knew him. We talked this evening with their Executive Director, and it looks like the Tour du Greater Homewood will happen again this year, in memory of Mr. Yates. Advertisements of it happening this year on the 2nd were a misprint. (More on TDGH here and here.)
Also, Boson of Velocipede and a lot of other folks are working on a Ghost Bike and a memorial to be held Sunday at 6pm. Stay tuned for details.
More on this tragic story:
ABC 2 News also Video
Baltimore Sun Ghost Bike article
Video of Memorial at Baltimore Spokes (in which you can spot three NBBB type folks)
Baltimore Sun, where the police blame the cyclist
I probably speak for everyone who writes for this blog when I say that my I am sick over this tragedy and also over the cold-hearted commenters on sites like The Sun who are blaming the victim. I can’t get the image out of my head that I saw when I went by right after it happened. If I could, I’d give it to everyone who thinks this is the inevitable outcome of bikes and cars sharing the same space. When cars bother to share, that is.
I hope SOME good can come of this. Something. Maybe our law-makers can get us a 3-foot rule? Maybe more of us (myself included) will get off our butts to help the efforts of people like Barry Childress and Nate Evans who are all trying to make Baltimore a better place for cyclists? Maybe we’ll all (cars and bikes alike) look out for one another more now?
Not that anything could be good enough to justify what happened yesterday.
Ride in peace, Mr. Yates. Ride in peace.
(Image: Something I dug up on The Sun. I asked someone who knew him, and she confirmed that it is Mr. Yates. He looks happy in this photo at Druid Hill, and that’s something we could all use tonight.)
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08.05.09 at 8:40 pm
Karen Stokes
I am the Executive Director of the Greater Homewood Community Corporation (GHCC) (mentioned above) and Jack Yates is a former board member (just stepped down as our Secretary), and was a great supporter of our organization and a tireless advocate of youth programs. Staff was shocked when we learned that Jack was the victim of this terrible accident. We were, in fact, planning on holding our second “Tour du Greater Homewood” this fall as part of our 40th anniversary activities. Staff decided today to hold this bike tour in honor of Jack, and any fees for the event will be designated for youth programs at GHCC – something Jack supported and provided leadership on as a board member. We will provide more details on this as soon as we have them.
I spoke with Boson from Velocipede this evening and he asked me to contact the family about the fact that cyclists will be creating a ghost bike memorial for Jack. I think this is a great idea and important for both drivers and cyclists to underscore the need for mutual respect, courtesy, and patience as we all use our public streets to get around. I am a new cycling enthusiast and I’ve been trying to commute by bike this summer. MD Ave has been one of the streets I use most often use since St. Paul still scares me. This accident is shocking to all of us but it shouldn’t keep us from biking in the city.
Just to let you know a little bit about Jack the man. He was a social worker that focused on junvenles. He retired as a facilitator with the Educational Opportunities Program, The Baraka School, and MD Dept. Of Juvenile Services. He was an educational consultant with the Abell Foundation at one time. He worked closely with many of the “Boys of Baraka.” I remember when he came late to a board committee because he was attending a special graduation for one of the young men he mentored. He told me about needing to buy a shirt and tie for him for the ceremony.
Jack lived on Maryland Avenue since 1972. he was married and has grown children. He was responsible for the beautification of that block with those large terra cotta containers. He was an engaged citizen and stayed very active after his “official” retirement. He was on his way to to University of Baltimore when he died.
08.05.09 at 10:04 pm
Johnny
Thanks, Karen.
I let the UB press folks know about one of our own passing away. This is sad on so many levels.
08.05.09 at 11:42 pm
Boson
Just to clarify: the ghost bike is being readied by many people, some from velocipede, some from other organizations. Many thanks to Rod Bruckdorfer,Gary Letteron, Kristen Rigney, and many others for helping with stripping/painting and creating this bike.
Our plan is to install it at the site after 6pm on sunday (6pm being the closing time for our volunteer day at the shop) We welcome people to join us in this informal memorial.
08.06.09 at 8:36 am
Johnny
Thanks, Boson.
08.06.09 at 8:37 am
Johnny
If you feel like venting, go respond to some of these asshat comments on THE SUN:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bal-bicyclist-death0805,0,5038238,comment-display-all.story
Did you know that we’re all “crazy” for riding in Baltimore and totally all have it coming?
08.06.09 at 10:17 am
EleanorR
Johnny and I will definitely be there for the ghost bike on Sunday. I think it’s a travesty that the loss of someone’s life has become (in some settings) yet another opportunity for drivers to air their grievances about cyclists. How about some compassion, folks?
08.06.09 at 12:15 pm
Eric
I find the comment sections of all the Sun’s webspace to be particularly repugnant. I try not to be drawn into internet slapfights with people like that. The Sun needs to moderate their comment sections if they are going to make them available to the general (anonymous) public.
My suggestion is to avoid engagement with those people.
08.06.09 at 1:47 pm
Damon
I think the cyclist v car debate is framed poorly, and an alternate just came to mind.
It’s not about convincing motorists that cyclists have an equal right to the road. It’s about convincing all of us that adult cyclists have an equal right to safe cycling that children do, regardless of the venue, except where prohibited by law.
What happens on city streets would be far less frequently dismissed if the victim was 4,5,6; streamers fluttering from the handlebars; their whole future ahead of them. The same people blaming the cyclist in this case would probably come down against the motorist if Mr. Yates had been “Little Jackie Yates”. I don’t believe there is any legal distinction between protections afforded kids and adults who take to the road.
“Children at play” shouldn’t be considered differently from the bicycle signage on the side of the road. They both mean, “please don’t use your car to kill someone”.
08.13.09 at 5:47 pm
Johnny
http://wjz.com/video/?id=59257@wjz.dayport.com
Notice the change in language. “Truck that hit him,” not, “truck that the bicycle collided with.” They are even (finally) throwing around the word ARREST.
12.22.11 at 9:00 pm
Great Morning for a Ride – Spoiled by Getting Online | s t e a d y . o r g
[...] about a memorial for a cyclist who was hit by a truck in Baltimore. Coverage is nicely compiled here. The responses that are on the websites of the Sun are absolutely unacceptable. The attitudes [...]