We live in a culture that does not know how to grieve. Most of us weren’t taught how to sit with our feelings. And we don’t get space to mourn; often, families get just a couple days off from work to mourn a loved one’s passing. Unless we totally tune out, we’re barraged with death after death after death. It’s understandable that under these circumstances, we become numb to violence and death in our own communities.

We need to learn to grieve traffic violence.

About one hundred years ago, in the 1920s, thousands of U.S. children were being killed each year by cars. The community response to was hail the mothers as martyrs and erect memorials. Drivers were vilified. Efforts were made to halt the creeping takeover of cars, but the motorist lobbies actually worked to remove the blame from drivers and cars and place it onto pedestrians.

And with that, the cries of the families of traffic victims have been drowned out.

We need to learn to grieve traffic violence again.

In Kingston alone, we experienced three tragic deaths of cyclists within one year; all were due to a collision with a car, truck or bus. Their names were Darryl Savage, John “Host” Lynch, and Devin Griffiths.

Many more drivers, passengers, and people outside of cars are killed or severely injured in our communities every year. Despite the onslaught of traffic deaths, there’s not enough being done in this county to make streets safe and accessible for all.

Let’s let ourselves feel the pain these deaths. And let’s avenge these deaths by fighting for the highest levels of street protection, for the most vulnerable among us, and for us all.

To honor the World Day of Remembrance, we are hosting a bike ride this Sunday, Nov. 20, in memory of victims of traffic violence in Ulster County. We will depart at 3 p.m. from Big Lots (formerly Burlington Coat Factory). With a sheriff’s escort, we’ll ride down Ulster Avenue and Albany Avenue to the County Office Building on Fair Street. If you would like to join as a pedestrian, we will meet at Academy Green at 3:15. We will have a vigil with speakers at the office building. If you identify as affected and/or a victim of traffic violence, you are invited to wear black and bike in the front of the group. All others please wear visible colors. See you there!