Memorial Ride For Ed Weiss - This Sunday!

Bicycle Ride in Memory of Ed Weiss

Start: Jul 29 2007 - 10:45am
End: Jul 29 2007 - 12:00pm

A memorial bicycle ride will be held on Sunday, July 29th, 2007, along Skyline Blvd. in the Oakland Hills. This ride is in memory of Ed Weiss. Ed was an avid bicyclist in the Oakland and Berkeley Hills for many years. He was struck--head-on--by a motorcycle while lawfully bicycling on the Skyline Regional Bikeway on Saturday, July 29th, 2006, during the mid-afternoon.

The crash took place in the 8200 block of Skyline Blvd, near the 5-way intersection of Skyline Blvd, Shepherd Canyon, Pinehurst and Manzanita roads. Ed died on Sunday, July 30th, at 4:30am in Highland Hospital, never regaining consciousness.

This ride, coordinated by Ed's family, concerned Skyline Blvd. residents, and fellow bicyclists, will take place on the one-year anniversary of this tragic event. The purpose of the ride is to pay respects to Ed and his family, plus we join the family in calling for the DA to prosecute the motorcyclists and we join the residents' appeal for enforcement against speeding and lane violations. Ribbons will be tied to trees near the crash site, and bicyclists may drop off a flower at the site in memory of Ed.

When & Where
Meet at Sibley Park, near the corner of Skyline Blvd and Grizzly Peak Blvd, at 10:45am on July 29th. The memorial ride will then take place along Skyline Blvd. heading south, and will pass by the crash site at around 11am. Ed's family members will be at a nearby pull-out to talk with riders.

Please ride by to show your support. Ed's death was a tragedy, and as a result residents of Skyline Blvd. are working with Oakland Traffic Engineering, Public Works and the Police Department to improve traffic safety along this scenic but busy roadway.

If you have questions, or would like to provide assistance, please contact Rick Schiller, Ed's brother, at: r_schiller@comcast.net

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Change for Q1 2007
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Our goal is to increase awareness of issues related to the Skyline Corridor and Montclair upper Hills community,
and stimulate where possible action by citizens and government to work togeher providing deliverables that improve quailty of life.

While initially focusing on traffic safety, we aim to increase awareness of a broad range of issues. We hope sharing information and ideas helps facilitate enhanced communication among residents, taxpayers, merchants, local government and the larger community. There are many links here to resources and contacts that may help you help make Oakland a better place to live. If you have antying to add to this, please let me know.

Background

This site launched August 2006 after the senseless and tragic death of Ed Weiss in July 2006, which occurred a few doors from our home. Ed was struck by a motorcycle apparently racing on the wrong side of the road. I never knew Ed Weiss, however for years I saw people race with impunity on Skyline. Without any success, I attempted to get the City to put an end to the madness but nothing has changed as of yet.

Ed paid with his life. Now I hear the the man who killed him is not be changed with so much as a traffic ticket. It appears that the person who killed Ed will not suffer consequences beyond what his conscious might do unto him. I cannot comnprehend how horrible having someones death on my hands might be. However, we do have a legal systems, designed in theory to enforce a remedy of violations aginst the public good. I wonder when this matter will be brought before the public courts.

Meanwhile, we believe that the conditions on Skyline should be addressed immediately. The racers continue to this day unabated, undeterred as they know there is no enforcement in these hills. They can race with wanton abandon. This should include re-engineering and road improvements, enforcement actions, education to prevent problems, proactively, new awareness of road safety imperatives. We should come to together an do this NOW before any one else is killed.


Bennett Hall
February 2007
What will happen next? bh/ 2-14-2007


As an experiment, I have been driving up and down Skyline at or slightly below the speed limit, enjoying the spectacular view up here. I figure that if more people used Skyline as if it were a scenic drive, like the 17 mile drive in Monterey, that the "paradigm" of this being a place for racing or high-speed commuting could be changed as the slow sightseers would render the racing far less "fun" and deter the commuters to the freeway where they belong.

This is not without danger however, as following the law here is at your own and others peril. Yesterday, I was tailgated by a pack of racers within the first few curves - gunning their engines, menacing, trying to instill fear and panic, and as I was in my sports car, perhaps they hoped I would "change my errant ways", downshift and show them what I could do on the curves as well. I was having none of this intimidation of course, nor was there a safe place to pull over.

Problem was, that this led to their decision to break the law, rev up to 10K-RPM and fly past me over the double yellow with very impressive acceleration - these racing bikes must provide an incredible rush, but SO out of place on our SCENIC SKYLINE DRIVE. Fortunately, there was no oncoming cyclist, dog walkers or SUV's but I am sure they believed that they were in control and they could handle any situation that presented themselves.

What they chose to do in response to my choice to following the law, was to break the law and risk a fatality event identical to that which killed Ed a mere handful of curves ahead of where they recklessly and illegally passed me.

BTW, the Harley riders are consistently on "slow cruise", friendly and waving, it may be that they could provide alleys in the establishment of the Scenic View concept.

Are we supposed to let the criminal simply take our streets, or should we come together and make it known that enough is enough, change is happening NOW, and you just better find another race course to challenge your testosterone problems......

Overview of Concept:: Skyline Scenic Drive - Oakland Route One

• Re-brand skyline as a "Scenic View Drive"
• Improvements: street furniture, historical markers, wider turn-outs and shoulders at view points, hardscape development
• Remove eucs - and partner with fire-safety program to remove as many view-blocking trees as possible
• Wayfinding enhancements
• Combine: integrate program with the 3E's
• Partner with Chabot on branding and signage, integrate with space and science themes
• Integrate with Traffic circle concepts as presented for Shepard and other locations
• Public Art program-sculpture - as possible ( remember the "San Francisco Heart" program that was installed all over the city??)

My vote is to change the pattern of illegal racing/high-speed commuting up here by replacing it with a positive, quality of life world-class but traffic-calmed experience.


A view park is proposed for the corner of Pinehurst, Manzanita and Skyline.
Pledges are requested of time and $ to assist in making this possible -
see the Traffic Circle page for more information on this project. Link to more information


"The proposed site for the Ed Weiss Viewpark came up on my screen I was moved to tears
To see such beauty and to know that it has been connected to Eddie through your talent and your compassion is overwhelming. To say thank you cannot express how grateful I am for this moment." - —SD, 8-10-06


Photograph from the proposed Ed Weiss View Park, Skyline at Pinehurst ( Shepard )
Photograph by Bennett Hall

Contributions are welcome -
Please, send your suggestions, articles, links, narratives, stories or ideas that you think may improve this site.
.
If you are interested in helping with physical improvements, augmenting city services, landscaping, or other improvements, talk about it to everyone you meet - -perhaps an initiative can evolve and your dream can become a reality for hte City of Oakland.