Ghost bike placement September 2nd 2013 for Cyclist killed by motorist at 135th & Ridgeland

On June 11th Brian McDevitt took a day off work as a Chicago Policeman to spend time with his family. In the afternoon he went for a ride on the Palos path. When crossing the intersection of 135th & Ridgeland he was struck by a vehicle making a left turn. He laid in a coma at Advocate Christ Hospital for 10 days and passed away succumbing to his injuries on June 21st 2013. He would have turned 31 the following week.
Brian leaves behind his wife and two small children.
Brian was a decorated officer of the CPD earning many awards in the short time he was on the force. A great family man and avid cyclist and always had a smile on his face that will be truly missed.
We're placing a ghost bike at the scene and hope motorists will get a message from it and take more care. My wife rides this path and almost got hit several times if not for being extra cautious
We're calling this for 4:00 pm and all are welcome
Thank you so much for reading this and stay safe out there


This is the newspaper article
http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/20887577-522/bicyclist-dies-10-da...

Thanks again and God Bless

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Permalink Reply by Bert Travis on August 16, 2013 at 2:17pm
Peace. Hope to see you there.

h' 1.0 said:

Thank you for doing this, Bert.

Permalink Reply by Duppie on August 16, 2013 at 3:01pm
Brian seemed like an all-around nice guy. Sorry about your loss. Thanks for putting up a ghostbike. if you haven't done so yet, you can make this an event here so it shows up in the calendar.
Permalink Reply by Bert Travis on August 16, 2013 at 3:31pm

Thanks Duppie he was. Even the criminals on the east side liked him. They called him white lighning cuz he always caught one running away. Biking paid off there.

Thanks for the calendar tip. I will 

Permalink Reply by Ken Gray on August 16, 2013 at 4:37pm

Bert, sad post but still glad your bringing this to our attention. I'll be there with you when this ghost bike is installed. May it be the last.

Permalink Reply by Bert Travis on August 17, 2013 at 2:13am
Sad for sure Ken. If there was any accountability I think we'd be safer
Permalink Reply by Bert Travis on August 17, 2013 at 8:32am

If anyone has any tips to share this is our first time, and hopefully last

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 18, 2013 at 6:02am

Thank you for doing the ghost bike installation and for telling us. These losses are never easy, but they're worse when it was one of the good guys. Take care and stay safe.

Permalink Reply by Bert Travis on August 19, 2013 at 3:29am
Thanks for your kind words Ann.
All the best and safe biking
Permalink Reply by Ken Gray on August 19, 2013 at 1:58pm

Fellow chainlink'rs can you help out here? What should a Ghost Bike installation look like?  A moment of silence? A few somber words? A celebration of a life now gone? What should/could be done to honor a fallen rider and also to help remind all the rest of us to be careful out there? I really want to know how this should be done and I know that Bert wants to do right by his friend Brian.

Permalink Reply by Bert Travis on August 19, 2013 at 2:55pm

Thanks Ken. Also we are considering a procession on bikes from Brian's house to the site with the ghost bike on a trailer. After I get the ok from his wife I post a meeting location so all that would like to join please do

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on August 19, 2013 at 3:17pm

There are a few authorities on this topic on the chainlink (see h' 1.0 above), and I'm not one of them, but I have been to a few ghost bike installations and dedications. Every one I've been to, the bike is installed a day or so in advance. The family and friends take the lead with respect to any ceremony. If they want a procession to the site, if they want a eulogy, if they want people to take turns with remembrances about the deceased, that's all up to them. There's really no wrong way to conduct the ceremony-whatever's meaningful to the attendees who knew the deceased.   

Permalink Reply by Chicago Ride of Silence on August 19, 2013 at 4:11pm

We've been in touch with the family. We'll be honored to be a part of Brian's Ghost Bike installation and we're happy to help in any way we can. 

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