Daniel Everlove was hit and killed while riding his bicycle at Guadalupe and Alma School on Saturday night. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.

We’ll update this post with more information as we get it.

Media coverage:

http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2012/01/24/20120124mesa-bicylist-struck-killed-saturday-evening-abrk.html

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/local/article_43400fd2-45ef-11e1-931b-0019bb2963f4.html

http://www.kpho.com/story/16580610/bicyclist-hit-killed-by-car-in-mesa

While I’d guess at least half of our members are in Tempe proper, I’m sure we have some fringe members all across the Phoenix Metro area. On Monday, Humana Healthcare is set to launch their Freewheelin’ Bike Sharing Program at the Mesa Guidance Center which is located on the Southwest corner of Recker and McKellips in Northeast Mesa. The program is free to anyone 18+ with two requirements. Helmets are required, and provided for free if necessary. Also, you must attend a 1 hour Safety Info Session. Yours truly will be leading the Safety Info Session as well as conducting a Confidence Ride Course in addition to leading group rides from 2.5 to 10 miles long. Here’s the press release from Humana:

Please join us for a special event celebrating Humana’s launch of Freewheelin, a free community bike-sharing program. Representatives from Humana and the city of Mesa will make brief remarks and then take an inaugural ride. Members of the community are encouraged to join the group ride on a Freewheelin bike or one of their own. *The 20 Freewheelin bikes are first come, first served. Come and enjoy the refreshments and fun Freewheelin gear.

Located at Humana’s Guidance Center, Freewheelin is a program offering anyone 18 or over a free bike ride. The Guidance Center will supply a free helmet and offer group rides led by a bicycle expert. To participate, users need to bring an id and credit card and attend a bicycle safety information session.

We look forward to seeing you at this community event.

Event Details:
Monday, October 26
10:30am
Humana Guidance Center
5943 E. McKellips Rd. Ste 106
Mesa, AZ 85215

Don’t forget, our friends over in Mesa are organizing a Ride of Silence tomorrow!

Details:

When: May 21st at 7pm
Where: Starts at Alma and Guadalupe

Route: The ride is 10 miles long and rides at 12 miles per hour. It starts at Alma and Guadalupe and goes west thru Kiwanis park across the Tempe border and then back to the start along the same route.

More info: See our original post on the topic or join the Google Group – http://groups.google.com/group/rideofsilencemesa

Tom wrote us to let us know that a group of folks from Mesa will be hosting a Ride of Silence on May 21st at 7pm as one of the many locations around the globe riding that day in honor of cyclists who have been killed or injured on public roadways:

On May 21, 2008, at 7:00 PM, the Ride of Silence will begin in North America and roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways….The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph and remain silent during the ride. There is no brochure, no sponsors, no registration fees and no t-shirt. The ride, which is held during Bike Safety month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for those who have been killed or injured.

The route of the ride will start in Mesa and cross into Tempe:

The ride is 10 miles long and rides at 12 miles per hour. It starts at Alma and Guadalupe and goes west thru Kiwanis park across the Tempe border and then back to the start along the same route.

We are coordinating with Mesa and Tempe police for possible assistance and may possibly have media coverage.

They’ve also got a Google Group setup for more details and discussion about the ride: http://groups.google.com/group/rideofsilencemesa

Full info on the Mesa/Tempe ride as well as other rides in Arizona (and around the world) can be found here