Kristy Gough and Matt Peterson Memorial Ride

Memorial site for Kristy and Matt (photo courtesy of Garrett Lau

http://www.flickr.com/photos/garrettlau)

by Lucia Mokres

On October 18, a dedication ceremony took place to honor the memory of Kristy Gough (Third Pillar) and Matt Peterson (Roaring Mouse), who were tragically killed when a Sheriff’s Deputy struck them while riding through Steven’s Canyon last March. The memorial was hosted by the City of Cupertino, and several Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club- SugarCRM members turned out to show support, along with many other local cyclists.

We all rode from City Hall in Cupertino, past the site of the accident, to a small turnout in the road in which the memorial was built. Kristy and Matt’s families both gave extraordinarily moving speeches. After 6 short months, the devastation is no less poignant; each family member had their own way of expressing such an array of emotions, from sadness, to anger, and finally, to hope for those of us still out on the road.

The tears flowed freely as we thought about Kristy and Matt, and others we have lost.
It was also a time to reflect on how fragile our own lives are, and how important it is to take care of ourselves and each other both on the bike, and behind the wheel. One of Matt’s mother’s most striking remarks was how proud Matt was of his body--a vessel that had previously been a source of grief and became such a source of pride as he lost an extraordinary amount of weight and became strong and fast; and how shocking and unfair it was that this same body could not protect him from what was to come. We all may feel strong and invincible on the bike. Because we are self-aware on the bike we assume that others are aware of us. Yet, how many of us have taken our eyes off the road to answer a call, change the radio station, or driven while sleepy. The message of hope was that we stay safe, that we develop better traffic laws and relationships between motorists and cyclists, but most importantly, that we enjoy riding, our life, and the people in it to the fullest.

The dedication concluded with an unveiling of the memorial. A ghost bike, permanently installed and painted white, marks the site and is a meaningful way to attract attention of passing riders and drivers. A plaque sits at the foot of the bike, with the following inscriptions:

In Loving Memory of Kristy Gough

November 19, 1977 - March 9, 2008

FREE FROM LIMITATIONS & IMAGINARY LINES

Our hearts forever inspired byMatthew Wayne Peterson

June 4, 1978 - March 9, 2008

RETHINK WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

Though the circumstances are tragic, it was wonderful to see the cohesion between cyclists and the support of the community for cyclists and cycling safety. Thank you to the City of Cupertino for sponsoring the memorial, also to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department, for providing support for the ride.