A bicycle ride planned in memory of a bicyclist who died last month after being struck by a car making a left turn will start at 6:30 p.m. May 15 at Eldridge Park in Elmira. Matthew Miller — Matt to his many friends and family members — was a stay-at-home dad devoted to his 7-year-old son Holden.

It is heartbreaking to feel the grief experienced by Matt’s family and friends. I hope his death will serve as a reminder to all drivers to always look twice when making a left turn because you could save a life.

Organizers hope the 6.2-mile Awareness Ride In Memory of Matt Miller will also remind motorists to avoid distractions and watch for runners and pedestrians, too, said Paul Kingsbury, an organizer of the ride and the owner of Kingsbury’s Cyclery in downtown Elmira, who said walkers and runners are encouraged to participate.

In my 28 years of representing injured cyclists, over and over again I see the same cause of these collisions: Left-turning vehicles, where the motorists claim to have never seen the cyclist.  The law charges every motorist with the obligation to see what is there to be seen, and accordingly, motorists should look twice before making any left turn.

Matt died April 25 at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, one day after he was struck head-on by a left-turning motorist who crossed a double-yellow line on Hendy Creek Road in the town of Southport. Matt was 43. The 1989 Elmira Free Academy graduate was is survived by his wife, Michele, and their 7-year-old son, Holden.

I have been retained to represent Matt’s family in all matters pertaining to his death, including a wrongful death action to financially provide for his family.

The ride, for all ages, will begin near the Eldridge Midway and continue out of the park on the Lackawanna Rail Trail. It will continue through city streets on the Northside and Eastside before returning to Eldridge. A brief ceremony, with several speakers, will precede the ride, Kingsbury said. Money will be raised for Matt’s son Holden.

Matt was an avid cyclist who loved to ride when he returned home to see family and friends, said Kingsbury, who knew Matt for 30 years.

“He was a cyclist’s cyclist who loved to ride,” he said. “It wasn’t all about equipment and training to Matt. He loved to ride down rural dirt roads to explore and see new things and meet interesting people. He was a very personable, intelligent guy.”

Matt’s family and friends have told me what a loving and devoted father and husband he was, and he is greatly missed.

To see the course for the ride, click here.

To see the ride’s Facebook page, click here.

To learn more about the ride, contact Paul Kingsbury at kcyclery@gmail.com or 607-733-3465.

Thank you for reading,

Jim
NY & PA Bike Accident Lawyer

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