The Philly Bicycle Community Organized a Bike Ride & GoFundMe For a Hit and Run Victim!

The Philly Bicycle Community Organized a Bike Ride & GoFundMe For a Hit and Run Victim!

There’s no doubt that Philly has a thriving bike culture.  You can’t move around this city without seeing cyclist.  Philadelphia has been putting forth an effort to cater to cyclist with more bike lanes, bike share programs and events.  Unfortunately, it may not be enough to ensure the safety of cyclist. This reality became all too real for cyclist William (Will) Lindsay III who lost his life Sunday, July 12 on the 3800 block of Ridge Avenue.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Will called Strawberry Mansion home. Will’s favorite trails in the region were the Green Ribbon trail, the Forbidden Drive trail, the Perkiomen trail, and the Cooper River trail.  The accident however occurred less than a mile from his residence.  The driver of the car drove off leaving Will on the side of the road without calling for help, Will was only 32 years of age.  Police initially released a photo of what looked to be a white sports car but that image has since been rescinded but we’re told they are still looking for the perpetrator.

In the meantime the Philly cycling community has rallied together in honor of Will, who loved cruising on his prized chrome, Fairdale, Weekender.  A GoFundMe has been created with a goal of $50,000 with money that will go towards to two high-impact, cycling-centered, non-profits of Philadelphia, “Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia” and “Neighborhood Bike Works of Philadelphia”. All donations will be split evenly between the two organizations. Currently, they are only a couple grand away from reaching it.

 In addition a “Ride for Solidarity” bike ride has been organized that will honor Will.  The ride is scheduled for Sunday, July 26th at 1 pm. Riders will start at the Dell Music Center and End at Laurel Hill Cemetery.

The cycling community is hoping that Will’s tragic accident will be a wake up call for the city to do more for cyclist’s safety.  A passage on the GoFundMe page reads. “With our support, we are demanding that our City leaders recognize the weaknesses in Philadelphia’s road infrastructure. We are demanding that our elected officials become committed to eliminating the threat this outdated infrastructure puts on the lives of cyclists. This threat morbidly looms over every cyclist in this City each and every time that they take to the roads to commute, or just to do what they love. We must amplify our voices to let them know we will not accept this threat any longer.”