A white "ghost bike" and twin plaques honoring cyclists Kristi Gough and Matt Peterson were dedicated on a beautiful October Saturday morning after a memorial ride up Stevens Canyon Road. The two cyclists were killed, and another seriously injured, in a head on collision there in March with an oncoming Sheriff's Deputy's cruiser that crossed the double yellow line.
Leading the hundreds of cyclists from Cupertino's City Hall was Mayor Dolly Sandoval, a cyclist herself. The permanently installed ghost bike behind the plaques was her idea, highly visible to cyclists and motorists descending Stevens Canyon Road, looking down the Stevens Creek valley and out over Silicon Valley. It was approved by Kristi's and Matt's families. Several family members spoke movingly of their losses at the dedication ceremony. As Dolly said, "The ghost bike is a good reminder that motorists and cyclists need to be ever vigilant about watching over each other's safe travels.
Greg McPheeters, SVBC Vice-President, also spoke at the ceremony, reminding everyone of the vulnerability of cyclists, and the need for motorists to always be attentive, citing SVBC's Share the Road campaign as our attempt to spread that word.
Sheriff's Deputy James Council, who apparently fell asleep at the wheel, has pleaded not guilty to charges of misdemeanor vehiclular manslaughter. The case is not yet settled.
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