Prescott, AZ - March 17, 2003 - March 21st will mark one year since the bicycle advocacy movement lost one of its brightest stars. That day last year, Susie Stephens was struck and killed by a tour bus while crossing a St. Louis street. As this mournful day approaches, bicycle advocates, family and friends of Susie are taking action in honor of her work to create communities that are safe for bicycling and walking.
Susie was a founding director of the Thunderhead Alliance, the national coalition of state and local bicycle advocacy organizations, and was hired as their managing director in August 2000. This position followed on the heals of her successful five year stint as the executive director of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington (BAW). As director of BAW, Susie built the organization to a powerful and respected statewide bicycle advocacy force. She brought that same savvy and determination to the Thunderhead Alliance, growing it from a small band of bicycle advocacy leaders to a respected national organization.
All who worked with Susie remember her courage which she would reveal by breaking into song, to friends, to strangers, to crowds ready to join her in her crusade. Susie often said, "There has never been a successful movement without song."
At the national level, the Thunderhead Alliance continues their mission of strengthening the efforts of state and local bicycle advocacy organizations across the nation; a mission Susie helped create. Thunderhead's newest annual event, the U.S. Mayors Bike Ride will be launched this July 4th as an annual memorial ride for Susie as it strikes at the core of what state and local bicycle advocates do: make a direct connection between policy makers and the need for a safe bicycling and walking environment in our communities.
Also at the national level, the National Center for Bicycling and Walking (NCBW) has committed to changing archaic laws that allow drivers who kill bicyclists and pedestrians to walk away with a wrist slap. Every year motor vehicles kill over forty thousand people; fourteen on an average day.
The driver who killed Susie was charged by the city with failing to yield to a pedestrian, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of $500. Bill Wilkinson, Executive Director of NCBW, asks these pointed questions, "Why is it that under our current system of laws the act of killing an innocent person with a motor vehicle is of such little consequence? Why is it that the motor vehicle operators whose various failures were the direct cause of death ... are in no way being held accountable for the consequences of their actions? And, why do we tolerate this situation?" Over the next few months NCBW will contact various experts, advocates, and advocacy groups to solicit input on what others are doing to respond to this problem. The Thunderhead Alliance and its members look forward to helping with this effort.
Susie helped set the model for these needed changes. As Executive Director of BAW, she helped push through Washington state legislation called the Cooper Jones Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Education Act. This act requires that drivers who either kill or injure a bicyclist or pedestrian be retested for their license. The act also provides grants to bicycle and pedestrian safety education programs.
In Washington state, Susie's advocacy partners, friends and family have events in Susie's memory scheduled across the state. In Seattle, the city council has proclaimed March 21 Susie Stephens Ride for Life Day. Also, a commemorative bike ride will end at a brewery for a toast to Susie and walkers will decorate a hazardous intersection to highlight its pedestrian needs, then walk to join the bicyclists. In Winthrop, the Methow Conservancy will lead a bike ride. In Tacoma, an evening bike ride will lead to a dinner and toast to Susie. And in Spokane, on their newly designated Susie's Spring Walk and Ride Day the Spokane Bicycle Club will lead a ride through the neighborhood where Susie grew up as Susie's mom, Nancy MacKerrow, leads a walk in her daughter's memory, both ending at Susie's favorite bakery.
Nancy has had a difficult year, but her daughter has helped her endure. "Susie herself has helped me through this year," Nancy said, "because of the connections I made to the wonderful advocates she knew who have been so supportive. They have gotten me involved in bicycle and pedestrian activism which has given me a way to make a positive change. I am dedicated to making something good come from the life she was denied."
What you can do:
* On March 21, ride a bike or walk with friends in Susie's memory.
* On July 4th, help your state or local bicycle advocacy organization take
your mayor on a bike ride to showcase the bicycle and pedestrian safety
needs in your community.
* Get involved with your state or local bicycle advocacy organization. To
find yours go to:
http://www.thunderheadalliance.org
* Sing a song of courage to a crowd of temporary strangers looking to you to show them how they too can help make a difference for bicycle and pedestrian safety.
Let's make everyday a memorial to Susie as we continue our push to create communities where everyone is safe to walk and ride bikes.
For more information, please contact Sue Knaup, Executive Director: 928-541-9841,
sue@thunderheadalliance.org
