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Archive for the 'Postcard from Durham' Category
This has been a difficult week for the Durham community of bicyclists, software developers and my neighborhood. This week Durham got its first (and hopefully last) Ghost Bike memorial. Seth Vidal was struck and killed while bicycling last Monday night. He was killed by a motorist who was driving with a suspended license, and who turned himself in the next day. Draw from that what you will about the driver.
I did not know Seth personally. I knew him only through the neighborhood listserv and I do recall sitting next to him at a couple neighborhood meetings. He was very well known in many communities in Durham and by all accounts was an intelligent, loving, sometimes frustrating, caring human being who deeply loved his family and friends, and who was a vocal bicycle advocate. He was 36 years old, an experienced bicyclist, a software developer, lived in my neighborhood, and leaves behind a partner, friends and family.
I travel via two wheels often and I know how unsafe this city can be to cyclists of all kinds. That is why I participated in a group ride organized by Seven Stars Cycles to honor Seth’s memory this morning. About 100 or so people came out to ride through the neighborhood and have a drink at a local pub. Many riders did not know Seth but like me were saddened and angered by the circumstances of his untimely death. Many were his friends and family. I hope they found some iota of solace in seeing how many lives Seth touched.
It was a powerful thing to be part of the ride today. I hope this city and its drivers will be more mindful of people traveling on two wheels. Give them all a little space and please be patient. We all just want to get home safe.
I’ll add links to stories as I find them below.
Seth Vidal memorial service (Herald Sun)
Bike lane study underway for Hillandale (The Durham News)
Bicyclists ride to honor hit-and-run victim (WNCN)
Memorial ride held for fallen cyclist (WTVD)
Sunrise over the School of Science and Math.
02
Jul
12
Down Go The Trees
Last time I went to the post office, there was a forest of dense trees across the street. Now they are all gone, soon to be replaced with more apartments. Just what we need. </sarcasm>
10
Jun
12
Mistaken Identity
Lemur playing Meerkat.
“Stella! This is the BEST monkey chow EVER!”
I spent the morning at the Duke Lemur Center on a behind the scenes tour. Very fun educational!
A new building sprang up on the corner of Guess and Sovereign. My guess is it will be some sort of restaurant.
Do you ever become so familiar with a place that when something changes you wonder if you ever knew it at all? I swear this space used to have a building in it, but looking at the sides of the other two buildings it seems unlikely. Maybe it’s just the new, orange construction fence that is different. I have no idea.
I’ve always rather liked the architecture of the local water treatment plant. It has an interesting history, which you can see over on Endangered Durham.
Daily Devil 