The ASU cycling club rode 1,000 miles Monday without moving an inch to raise money for a fallen cyclist.
Members of ASU Cycling planned a 24-hour bike ride on Hayden Lawn to benefit the wife and child of Matt Kelly, an NAU student and cyclist who was hit and killed by a car in Flagstaff on April 5. Flagstaff police said the driver was charged with aggravated DUI.
Club members set up rollers, a cycling training tool that allows a rider to use a regular bike but remain stationary, on Hayden Lawn. At least one member was riding at all times during the 24 hours.
"It freaks people out when they see [cyclists] riding, going nowhere," said Ernesto Ramirez, a member of ASU Cycling and first-year non-degree graduate student.
Ramirez said Kelly was the third cyclist he knew to be killed in Arizona within the past six months.
"We decided enough was enough," he said.
According to Bicyclinginfo.org, 2 percent of all traffic accident fatalities involve cyclists. The club wanted to raise awareness of bicyclists hit by cars.
"It was time for community action," Ramirez said. "We thought we could do this to raise some money."
John Menard, an ASU Cycling member and secondary education senior, started off the ride at 8 a.m. Members of ASU Cycling, other local cycling clubs and the public continued pedaling until 8 a.m. today.
Ramirez said he and Menard would probably ride six to eight hours.
"John and I will probably be doing the graveyard shift," he said.
Ramirez said as of Monday afternoon, the group had received between $500 and $600 in donations on Hayden Lawn and through their Web site www.asucycling.com. All funds will be donated to Kelly's pregnant wife, Brenda.
"I think it's awesome what they're doing," said Lucy Lyons, a tourism junior who stopped to make a donation. "Drunk driving is the dumbest thing anyone could do.
"People need to be more aware of cyclists on the road," she added, "because there's such a large population of cyclists in Arizona."
Ramirez said they were pleased with the response from people passing by.
"We were surprised to get so many donations from college students; you know we're all on a budget," Ramirez said.
"People have been putting in, like, $20," he added. "We really appreciate it."
Reach the reporter at emilia.arnold@asu.edu.
