Community gathers to dedicate Tracey Sparling memorial ‘Pedal Garden’
PNCA President Tom Manley holds a plaque that will be mounted near the Pedal Garden.(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
tracey sparling
PNCA set to unveil ‘Tracey Sparling Memorial Pedal Garden’
When 19-year old Tracey Sparling was killed while riding her bike in downtown Porltand on October 11th, 2007, it shook our city to the core. When, just 11 days later, Brett Jarolimek suffered a similar fate in a collision in north Portland, we experienced a unprecedented, citywide outpouring of grief and activism. For the community … Read more
PNCA plans ‘Tracey Sparling Memorial Pedal Garden’
Preliminary concept drawing of Tracey Sparling Memorial Pedal Garden.(Drawing by David Boekelheide and Evan Holt/PNCA)
TriMet tragedy, like Sparling case, shows gap in Oregon law
“This is precisely why the BTA, WPC [Willamette Pedestrian Coalition] and I are calling for a vehicular homicide law. There ought to be some higher level of consequence when you use a deadly weapon to kill someone, even if you didn’t do it on purpose. — Ray Thomas, lawyer Yesterday, Multnomah County Senior Deputy District … Read more
Church will give Tracey Sparling’s ghost bike a permanent home
Tracey Sparling’s ghost bike, as it stood on the corner of W. Burnside and 14th from October 2007 to October 2009.(Photo © J. Maus) The ghost bike that served as a memorial to Tracey Sparling, the 19-year old art student who was struck and killed by a cement truck on W. Burnside back in 2007, … Read more
Sparling family files lawsuit against trucking company
According to The Oregonian, the family of Tracey Sparling — the 19-year who was killed when a cement truck turned right into her in October 2007 — has filed a lawsuit against the trucking company. Here’s more from The Oregonian: “The suit was filed Tuesday in Multnomah County Circuit Court against the driver and his … Read more
PNCA staffer who rallied after tragedies receives award
Michael Hall oversaw memorials for two PNCA students last fall.(Photo © J. Maus) Michael Hall, Dean of Student Services at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, has received a community award from the NW Examiner for his role in creating awareness and promoting bike safety in the wake of two tragic deaths last year. The … Read more
One year later: Remembering Tracey and Brett
The ghost bike for Tracey Sparling (at the corner of W. Burnside and 14th in downtown Portland) with fresh flowers placed by family members on the one-year anniversary of her death.(Photos © J. Maus) A memorial sculpture and stencil (since removed) for Brett Jarolimek at the intersection of N. Interstate and Greeley.
A bittersweet bike box
The new bike box at W. Burnside and 14th.Video below(Photos © J. Maus) On Monday, the city of Portland installed a bike box in the SE corner of W. Burnside and 14th streets in downtown Portland — the same intersection where Tracey Sparling was killed nine months ago. This is the eighth bike box the … Read more
Bells ring in Portland’s first Blessing of the Bikes
Deacon Thomas Gornick led the ceremony.Photo Gallery here(Photos © J. Maus) In a respectful and poignant outdoor ceremony, St. Mary’s Cathedral in Northwest Portland held their first-ever Blessing of the Bikes on Sunday. The service opened with a hymn and continued with a series of prayers and intercessions meant to recognize and celebrate the contribution … Read more
Tracey Sparling’s family joins in the Ride of Silence
Unlike most group rides, last night’s Ride of Silence was a solemn affair.Full gallery here(All photos © J. Maus) About 70 Portlanders took part in the Ride of Silence last night. After a brief speech by BTA executive director Scott Bricker, the crowd rode from the North Park Blocks, made a loop through downtown, went … Read more
Magazine editor blames bike lanes for Portland fatalities
Download article here (115 kb PDF)Copyright 2008 by John Schubert and reprinted with permission from Adventure Cyclist magazine In the April issue of Adventure Cyclist magazine, technical editor John Schubert writes that “poorly designed” bike lanes were to blame for the recent deaths of Tracey Sparling and Brett Jarolimek. In, Portland’s Agony: Two cyclists died … Read more
Comment of the Week: A 45-year bike commuter weighs in