Ride in Peace, Debbie Morgan-Alam

 Depending on where you are reading this you will already know, or not, that another member of our southern California cycling community lost her life over the weekend to the senseless, wastefulness of traffic violence. If Ted Rogers' (BikinginLA) numbers are correct, the death of Debbie Morgan-Alam is the forty-seventh to hit us this year, a shameful number for an entire year, let alone a year that we are only half way through. Debbie Morgan-Alam frequently rode with the Ride Yourself Fit group out of Redlands and throughout the Inland Empire. At the time of her death, Debbie Morgan-Alam was riding on the Pacific Electric Trail, crossing Archibald Avenue in Rancho Cucamonga. While I cannot confirm the circumstances I, and untold numbers of other cyclists and pedestrians, will quickly point out the casual disregard for stopping at red lights that drivers frequently exhibit along many of the Trail's street crossings. This, combined with the excessively high speed limits that the city seems to put on the streets within its boundaries (some as high as 55 mph), are nothing less than a death sentence for vulnerable road users. As we have seen time and time again, placing the onus of responsibility on motor vehicle users does not work. Too many drivers think only of the moment they are in, with no thought to the danger they put others further up the road in. as a result of speed and/or distraction. 

My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Debbie Morgan-Alam.