UPDATE 5/22/15 MAUI NEWS REPORT ON TOMORROW’S EVENT:
Bicyclists conduct silent ride to remember slain Kihei cyclist
May 22, 2015
Bicyclists are invited to join a “Ride of Silence” from Kahului to Kihei and back Saturday to commemorate Kihei cyclist Karl Hagen, who was killed when he was struck by a pickup truck on Piilani Highway last year.
The ride begins at 9 a.m. at the entrance of the Mokulele Bike Pathway near Target. Riders will travel on the bike path to Kihei and back in a silent, slow-paced ride that also will remember other cyclists who have been injured or killed.
Riders are asked to wear white and ride in silence.
Article Photos
Karl Hagen and his wife, Robin, are shown in 2012 following a cycling event. Karl Hagen was killed last year when he was struck by a pickup truck on Piilani Highway in Kihei. A “Ride of Silence” in his honor will be held Saturday.
The nonprofit Maui Bicycling League is holding the ride as part of National Bike Month.
“The cyclists on Maui’s roads are people, just like the drivers of cars and motorcycles – people with families who love them and rely upon them, people with friends and hobbies, people who happen to share a love of bicycling for exercise, transportation and fun,” said Saman Dias, co-chairwoman of the Maui Bicycling League. “We ask all drivers to use consideration and care for our island cyclists.”
The crash that killed Hagan occurred at 1:12 p.m. April 12, 2014, on Piilani Highway north of Kanani Road. The 62-year-old cyclist was riding in a bicycle lane and heading north on Piilani Highway when he was struck by a black 1992 Ford Ranger pickup truck that also was heading north and drifted into the bicycle lane, police said.
“Karl was an avid cyclist, who logged several thousand miles each year,” Dias said. “He was a graduate of the University of Washington, devoted his career to his family’s office furniture business and had lived on Maui for three years. He had a love for music and his vegetable garden. He was a true sports enthusiast.”
Michael Cattaneo, 29, of Kula, who was driving the truck that struck Hagan, is awaiting trial in 2nd Circuit Court on charges of first-degree negligent homicide, operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs and not having vehicle insurance.
Refreshments for cyclists participating in the ride will be provided by Robin Hagen, the widow of Karl Hagen.
More details about the ride are available by going towww.facebook.com/mauibicyclingleague and clicking on the upcoming events box.
5/12/15 On Saturday (5/23/15) at 9:00 AM, a Ride of Silence has been organized by the quickly growing Maui Bicycle League (MBL) in memory of So Maui resident and avid bicyclist Karl Hagen, who was brutally struck while bicycling in the bike lane of the Pi’ilani Highway by an alleged impaired driver of a pick up truck, taking Hagen’s life, just over one year ago.
The ride’s purpose is to raise awareness about safe driving around bicyclists, and the dire need for safe segregated bicycle paths. The ride will commence at the Kahului end of the Mokulele bike path (by the new Target store) to the south end of the bikeway and No Kihei Rd, and then return to the North end. Riders are asked to wear white, and observe silence during the ride. All are encouraged to participate.
This is the So Maui version of a series of rides throughout the Island this month to commemorate National Bike Month. See www.mauibicyclingleague.org for information on all the bicycling events the group has established all over our island in May, designed as safe bicycling month nationally.
We encourage bicyclists of all skill levels to participate in this free, fun, healthy meaningful event.
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