Gaunt Memorial Ride

On Wednesday evening I attended a memorial ride for Larry and Sierra Gaunt, who were killed on August 6th when struck from behind by pickup truck struck on Raytown Road near Longview Lake in South Kansas City.

According to the Kansas City Star:

Police said that the two were riding near Harry S. Truman Drive about 6:39 when the collision occurred. Police said both bikes were properly in the right hand lane of traffic. Police have found no signs that the pickup driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, leading them to believe that driver inattention might have played a role. Police are continuing to investigate.

Over 600 area cyclists rode in a slow, nearly-silent procession around the lake, taking the same route the Gaunts rode on their last ride. A local bike shop set up white “ghost bikes” to mark the site of the collision, and the entire mass of cyclists stopped there for a moment of silence to pay their respects to the fallen, before continuing on the circuit of the lake.

This was the first event of this type I’ve ever been involved with, and I must say that it was rather moving. The realization that a tragedy like this could happen to any of us at any time seemed to be an unspoken thought in everyone’s mind. To look at the roadway where they were killed, and to see that it’s an absolutely straight and level piece of road with a wide shoulder and clear sight-lines, makes it hard to fathom how something like this could happen.

I also imagine that this event was very meaningful to the Gaunt families, to see that so many people cared enough to take time to participate. I know that I was proud to be there. It felt like the right thing to do.

Here are some photos I took of the ride: