(Update: San Francisco Examiner reports more than 100 cyclists joined the memorial ride.)
A memorial bike ride for elementary school teacher Michelle Mazzei, left, is scheduled in Menlo Park, California, on Sunday.
Mazzei, 34, a fourth-grade teacher at Oak Knoll School, died after being struck by a car on Oct. 2. Sheriff's officials said the driver, Theodore Charles Thornbrough, 68, of Westminster, Colorado, was distracted while reading a roadsign and veered the 1998 Mercedes 560 SL convertible into the bike lane, according to the San Jose Mercury News. There was no indication of alcohol or speed. Mazzei was wearing a helmet.
The San Mateo County Times reports that the memorial ride begins at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Canada and Edgewood roads in Menlo Park (take the Edgewood Road exit from I-280) and proceeds 1.5 miles down Canada Road to the Pulgas Water Temple for a short ceremony. Canada Road is closed to cars during these hours on Sunday.
Jerri-Ann Mayer, a friend of Mazzei's who is helping organize the event told the Times:
“One of the reasons we decided to do this is we wanted to celebrate her life with something she loved to do. We also want to use it as a way to remind people that there needs to be more awareness with drivers on the road.”
Area cyclists are meeting at various locations to ride to the event.
San Mateo — meet at 9:35 a.m. at the downtown Caltrain station on First and B streets;
Menlo Park — meet at 9:30 a.m. at Burgess Park on Alma Street;
Los Altos — meet at 8:45 a.m. at Outfitter Bicycle shop.
A picnic is planned nearby after the ceremony, and interested cyclists can tour local roads after the event.
The Merc reported that Mazzei was the 26th rider killed in a collision with a motor vehicle in San Mateo or Santa Clara counties in the past five years.
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