On Saturday, November 14, the Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance will join Bike Night Reno and the Nevada Bicycle Coalition for A Ride to Remember, honoring Jeff Illig and remembering the lives lost to traffic violence in our community.
We hope you can join us as well. The ride will begin at 1 p.m. at Roy Gomm Elementary School and will include a Ghost Bike installation in Jeff’s memory.
The ride takes place one day before the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, observed Sunday, November 15. This annual day of remembrance honors the millions of people killed or seriously injured on roads around the world, as well as the families and communities left behind.
It also serves as a reminder that these tragedies are preventable and that safer streets require action from our transportation agencies, elected officials, and law enforcement.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, ATTACHMENTS OF JEFF ILLIG ARE FOR PUBLIC USE
Contact Ky Plaskon – 775-287-0302
Melany Denny (former wife of Jeff Illig) – 775-232-3265
Fatal Hit and Run Rewards in Reno increased to $10,000
The combined rewards for information leading to the arrest of the drivers responsible for killing a cyclist, Jeff Illig and pedestrian Lara Mangum, in Reno is now $10,000. The reward is the result of a growing coalition that includes more than 75 donors, the Nevada Bicycle Coalition ($7,500), the Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance (in-kind donations) and Secret Witness ($2,500). $5,000 will be offered for information leading to an arrest in either case. Submit tips to Secret Witness 775-322-4900.
“Our roads should be built to federal standards regardless of who is using them, drivers, bicyclists or pedestrians,” said Ky Plaskon, Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance Board Member and President of the Nevada Bicycle Coalition adding that bicycle infrastructure built on some roads (Like McCarran where Illig was killed) do not follow the FHWA Bikeway Selection Guide. “The results are clear and our leaders can do something about that now.”
The coalition is calling for:
Cities of Reno & Sparks, RTCs & NDOT to adopt the FHWA Bikeway Selection Guide AS POLICY for the development and redevelopment of existing roads with bicycle facilities.
Law Enforcement to release information about these crashes and produce and provide better resources to victims of road violence.
The families have struggled with the Reno Police Department’s refusal to release information about the crashes even 6 months later, claiming that they can withhold public records because they are part of an ongoing investigation. One of the victims, Jeff Illig who was killed May 13th was a 30-year US postal worker in Reno and veteran who was riding his bike when he was killed by a driver. The driver fled, and the car was later found with the license plates and VIN removed. Lara Mangum was killed June 15th when she was walking across Kietzke. Both drivers fled and have not been caught.
A Ride to Remember and Ghost Bike installation is planned for November 14, 1pm at Roy Gomm Elementary, supported by Bike Night Reno, Nevada Bicycle Coalition and Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance. To make a donation to the reward fund, go to NevadaBike.org. The goal is to increase the reward to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest of the drivers responsible. Thank you to our sponsors who will help make this a safe event: E-Bike Hub, Velocity Bicycle Repair and Bike Night Reno.