EThekwini Mayor James Nxumalo and the First Lady of South Africa, Mrs Thobeka Madiba-Zuma joined hundreds of social and professional cyclists to pay tribute to Richard da Silva and Jared Dwyer in a touching memorial ride on the M4 today, 14 February 2016. Da Silva and Dwyer were tragically killed on the M4 last week Sunday near the Broadway off-ramp.
Nxumalo said the City would do everything possible to create a safe environment for cyclist. “We are going to work with the newly formed eThekwini Cycle Safe Forum to improve the safety of cyclists. I want to urge people to continue cycling, because riding your bicycle regularly is one of the best ways to improve your health. Cycling is also good for the environment,” he said.
The Cycle Safe Forum was established last week Wednesday, 10 February 2016, at the Durban Green Hub in Blue Lagoon where concerned stakeholders,including Metro Police and City officials came together to develop a safety plan for cyclists. The interim forum is meant to address and resolve challenges facing cyclists in and around Durban.
During the memorial, part of the M4 was closed as cyclists made their way from Bike & Bean on to the Ruth First Highway. Nxumalo and the first lady Madiba-Zuma joined the families of the cyclists who were also in attendance and laid wreaths and flowers at the site of the crash.
The Head of Events, Safety and Cycling SA, Craig Proctor-Parker thanked the hundreds of people who came to pay their last respects to the two cyclists. “Your presence here today shows how much this tragedy has touched all of you. My heart goes out to Jared’s and Richard’s loved ones and the cycling community of Durban. They died doing what they loved and they will be missed,” he said.
