Join the Bike Temple at Today's Ghost Bike Shrine Dedication and Blessing of the Bikes

The Bike Temple will be in attendance, and possibly participating in today's Ghost Bike dedication to the bike shrine at St. Stephen's Episcopal Parish. Here are the details, we hope to see you all there.

Photo: Tony Cameron via Portland Mercury

Memorial for Cyclist Killed in October 2007 to Be Installed in Portland Bicycle Shrine

EVENT: Dedication of Tracey Sparling’s Ghost Bike and Spring Bicycle Blessing

WHEN: Tuesday, April 13, 5:30 pm

WHERE: Portland Bicycle Shrine, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 1432 SW 13^th Ave (at Clay).

BACKGROUND:

A memorial plaque for Portland cyclist Tracey Sparling will be installed in the Portland Bicycle Shrine at St. Stephens' Episcopal Parish, Tuesday, April 13, 2010. Donated by her parents, Lee and Sophie Sparling, the plaque remembers the nineteen-year-old Pacific Northwest College of Art student who was struck and killed by a cement truck at Burnside and 14th Avenue on October 11, 2007. Sparling's death resulted in the creation of green safety zones for cyclists making right-hand turns at certain Portland intersections.

Earlier this year, the family also donated to the Portland Bicycle Shrine the ghost bike that had been placed on the corner of Burnside and 14th following her death. Decorated with colorful artificial flowers, the bike was removed from the corner in October of 2009.

At the service of dedication of the memorial plaque, clergy of St. Stephen's Episcopal Parish, the Revs. Dennis Parker and Kenneth Arnold, will bless bicycles with chain oil, as they did in the Fall for the opening the of the bicycle shrine. The shrine is named after the patron of cyclists, the Madonna del Ghisallo. The Portland Bicycle Shrine is believed to be the first US shrine dedicated to cyclists.

Father Dennis Parker, priest in charge of the Episcopal parish, noted "The shrine celebrates the joy of bike riding but also remembers those who have died and is a place of prayer for the safety of Portland's bicycle community and everyone on our streets and roads. In the near future we hope to install memorial plaques for others who have been killed on the streets. Everyone is invited to bring their bikes on April 13 for a blessing and to join in remembering this remarkable young woman whose promising life was cut short so tragically."

The event will begin at 5:30 in the St. Stephen's Episcopal Parish church, which is located at the corner of Clay and 13th Avenue. A sign with a newly created logo will also be installed during the evening's service.

Call the parish for more details: 503-223-6424.