14 novembre 2003
Chris Henry
The fourth edition of the Marcha Ciclista Urbana was organised last Sunday, November 9 between Erandio and Arriga in the Basque Country. The ride, which typically attracts 500 people, was aimed at promoting driver awareness of cyclists in the Basque Country. In 2003 alone, four cyclists have been killed and 127 injured by cars, and organisers Erandioko Txirrindulari Elkartea wish to get the message across that "cyclists aren't simply furniture on the roads".
The 30 km ride started from Ayuntamiento de Erandio at 10:30am, finishing in Arriaga, stopping off at Berango to offer a tribute to Ricardo Otxoa's family. (Ricardo was a professional rider with Kelme, who was killed in a car accident that also injured his brother Javier).
The Erandioko Txirrindulari Elkartea group's latest campaign hopes to persuade the government to include a Marra Gorri (red line) on all main roads, drawn 1.5 metres from the edge. The initiative has already received a lot of media attention and support from the Basque authorities, as well as from the Basque cycling community where people like Marino Lejarreta, Miguel Indurain, Josea Fernandez Rodriguez "Matxin", Joane Somarriba, Mikel Zarrabeitia and David Lopez have all pledged their support.
page mise en ligne le 14 novembre 2003 par SVP
