Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club hosts ride in honor of those injured, killed in crashes

The Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club hosted the Twenty Years Ride of Silence on Wednesday in memory of those who’ve died or have been injured in crashes while riding a bike.

WINK News has reported on a lot of bicycle versus vehicle crashes just this year and there was a lot of emotion at the ride Wednesday night.

Many of the people who came out were on the verge of tears as they spoke about the loved ones they honored with their ride.

Debra Purcaro is one of those being honored. She was the bicyclist who was killed in a hit-and-run during a ride in Alva last year.

For the dozens who participated in the event, it’s both about keeping their memories alive and coming together to heal.

This year’s ride of silence is the first ride for Debra Miller, who lost her fiance, Frederick Ryan, in a hit-and-run last year.

“It’s tough, but…it’s important,” said Miller.

Ryan’s special bike now belongs to Debra’s friend, April Snyder, who rides in his honor.

“I’m going to ride it in his memory tonight. He’s an angel. Every time I get on this bike, I look up at the heavens and I say, ‘thank you Freddy, and keep all of us cyclists safe,'” said Snyder.

April, along with many others, are also riding to honor the memory of Debra Purcaro.

“It’s tough. I can cry when I go to her memorial when I’m cleaning it up. It’s hard when you lose someone that was a dear friend,” said Kathy Carbone, with Caloosa Riders and SWFL Critical Mass.

Many of the riders at Wednesday’s event were with Debra Purcaro when the fatal crash happened last year.

“This is kind of a therapy thing for me. Pink was always Debra’s color and this is the hottest pink that I could find,” said Mike Vales, with Caloosa Riders.

Those who survived being hit while riding called this group ‘the lucky ones.’

“You know that you’re not healing by yourself. You’re with others. You’re advocating for one another. You’re supported by the people that are not just your riding friends or your riding tribe, but they actually become your riding family,” said Julie Simpson, with Caloosa Riders.

Those survivors hope to be the catalyst for change.

“It’s been still an opportunity to do something to improve the community, to shape communities that are safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists alike,” said Diana Giraldo, president of Streets Alive of Southwest Florida.

Lee County Commissioner, Cecil Pendergrass, was also here at the event. He told the crowd of nearly 100 people that new road projects and renovations to existing roads will focus on the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians.