As a pedestrian and cyclist in New York City, it’s always sobering to see a picture like the following:
Earlier this week a speeding taxi (is there any other kind of taxi?) tried to maneuver around traffic only to hit a car, which then hit a pedestrian, and when the taxi that started the whole thing tried to drive away, the driver hit the same pedestrian. All of the damage you see did not happen in the accident; FDNY studs had to cut the top off of the car to get the driver out. The kicker, his passenger was a woman who was 8 months pregnant and no, the driver was no rushing her to a hospital.
I have to admit, I’m now one of those pedestrians who creeps out into the street looking for my chance to cross traffic early. This is a sobering reminder that I might want to keep to the sidewalk until the walk signal appears.
This accident happened just a few blocks from where I live and I walk or cycle by the intersection several times a week. Sometimes cycling among cars in the city is a rush, but after being hit once already here by a car, this is a reminder to be extra defensive.
I won’t have to worry about car traffic this weekend. I signed up for a sanctioned bicycle tour of all five boroughs on Sunday. The ride is 40 miles and rumor has it something like 40,000 people are expected. I have been to Staten Island, but crossing the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge should be a kick. Now if only the city would add more bike lanes and bicycle parking for people that actually like to commute on their bikes.
40 MILES? Gah.
40 miles ain’t bad. I’ve already put in three of those rides in the last month. Now the Seattle to Portland ride, that requires some effort, and lack of brain matter. Happy to say that I have done it though. And not the wimpy two day ride, I’m talking the full 200 in one day, the manly ride. Of course I probably lost a little of my “man-ness” being on bike seat for that long for one day.
Think about Lance Armstrong. A 40 mile ride for him is a warm up.
It just hurts to look at this picture.
“Faces of the Brave”
“Non-Profit” Tribute Artwork Project
The “Faces of the Brave” (FOTB) “Non-Profit” Tribute Artwork Project has been created as a lasting Tribute to Honor the lives of the fallen New York Emergency Services Personnel and other Heroes lost on 9-11 by putting their faces before the public. No longer will the thought of these brave men and women become a fading memory or mere statistic, there are more than 500 individual portraits to remind us of the personal sacrifice made that tragic day.
After more than 3 ½ years of Research & Development on the Tribute, Las Vegas artist Randy Soard has located each of the Surviving Family representatives (Estate Administrators) of the fallen Heroes lost on 9/11 and has invited each of them to participate in the “Faces of the Brave” Tribute Artwork Project. The artwork contains the images of 346 Firefighters (includes 3 retired FDNY), 23 Policemen (NYPD), 37 Port Authority Officers (PAPD), 16 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs-Paramedics), 3 New York State Court Officers, 2 (1 Active & 1 Retired) FBI Agents, 1 Secret Service Agent, 42 Security Officers, 11 Civilian-Volunteer Firefighters, 7 Civilian-Volunteer Fire Marshals and 20 Civilian heroes lost on 9/11.
All of the surviving families have been requested to provide one or two images of their fallen “family member” to be used in the artwork (a different image from the image(s) attached to the “Photo-Release” if they so choose). The “Final Version” of the “Faces of the Brave” artwork will “ONLY” contain images that have been legally authorized by the Estate Administrators (via a “Photo Release”). Many of the images provided to the artist by the survivors are from private collections and have never been viewed by the public.
Once the participation of the surviving families has been legally authorized and licensed, the artwork will then be printed and made available to the general public for purchase. 100% of the profits from the sale of the “Faces of the Brave” artwork will be gifted directly to the surviving families of the fallen Heroes or to the Charity, Foundation or Scholarship Funds of their choice.
The primary goal of this Project is to display the “Faces of the Brave” Artwork in public setting across the country and around the world including all Fire-Rescue Stations, Police & Paramedic-EMT Operations and Training Facilities, Educational Institutions (Schools, Universities), Hospitals and Medical Centers, Museums, Military Bases, Theaters, Transportation Terminals (Airports, Ferry, Rail, Bus, Cruise), Financial Institutions (Banks, Credit Unions and Brokerages), Municipal-County-Federal Court Houses, Sport Stadiums (College & Professional), Departments of the U.S. Government and all U.S. Embassies located World Wide. The “Faces of the Brave” artwork will also become a part of traveling and permanent public exhibits at State Fairs, Indoor Malls, Public Libraries and Building Murals dedicated to honoring those lost on 9-11.
For Additional Information, please contact us at the following:
Randy Soard
Email: RandySoard@hotmail.com
Web: Http://www.BraveFaces.com