About 30 cyclists stood silently around a new white ghost bike Wednesday to honor a fallen rider.
Steve Jordan was killed during a ride on July 4 on Louisburg Road in northeast Raleigh.
Fellow cyclists and friends rode about two miles from the local police station to the location to honor Jordan, their fellow bike enthusiast and the state mental health director at the North Carolina Department Health and Human Services.
Timur Ender stands behind the ghost bike, holding a moment of silence for Steve Jordan.
As part of the ghost bike ceremony, Timur Ender made a plea to city officials saying, “North Raleigh has been neglected for bicycle infrastructure. We need more space. This was one of the only connectors to the Neuse River.”
“Bikes are here to stay, they are not going anywhere,” Ender said.
As folks pulled on helmets and adjusted seats prior to the ride, they talked about a fraction of second and what that can mean. Scott Reston said he rides often in the area and has had close calls and he felt he needed to make this memorial ride, “because that could be me.”
The ghost bike, which is intended to be permanent, is considered a work of art, a memorial and a reminder.
Ender ended the short ceremony with the words, “Take a moment, appreciate the beauty of life and … of cycling.”
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- Peggy Hatfield of Raleigh, ready to ride, with rearview mirror attached to helmet. Hatfield commutes 7 miles each way to work on a bike.
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- Robert Overby of Raleigh attaches wheel before the start of the ride.
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- Rides begin their memorial bike ride for Steve Jordan, who was struck and killed July 4 while riding on Louisburg Road.
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- Josh Prentice, 11, joined the ride to honor Jordan, who was Prentice’s basketball coach.
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- A photo of Steve Jordan is attached to the wheel of the ghost bike.
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- A ghost bike now sits near the area Jordan hit while riding.
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- Lisa Moon worked with Steve Jordan and made the “For Steve” sign to wear while she rode.
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- Riders arrive at the spot where Steve Jordan died.
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- Timur Ender stands behind the ghost bike, holding a moment of silence for Steve Jordan.
