Greg Jennings' name was released as the man who was struck down and killed Monday evening on Route 299 between Glendale and Blue Lake. This has been a terrible tragedy for his family and friends, and for the brotherhood and sisterhood of bicycle commuters.

Greg, 42, was an ecologist at the BLM, a resident of Blue Lake, and a regular commuter on the 299 corridor. I have gathered from those I have talked to that he was well-liked and will be missed. His wife survives him.

Riding on 299, Greg was doing everything right, wearing bright colors, and riding well over on the shoulder. The driver of the pick-up that swerved onto the shoulder and struck him dead has been arrested and an investigation is pending. There has been no public information with regard to whether drugs or alcohol were involved.

It would be pathetic if we as a society don't learn from from this and other recent collisions in which bicyclists have been struck. We need more stringent testing before people are allowed to take the wheel of a lethal weapon, and more willingness on the part of courts to take away that priviledge from dangerous drivers. We as bicyclists need to renew our efforts at promoting safe cycling. Motorists need to be educated as well.

We also need our various transportation planners, including the NCRA, to realise the urgency with which we need alternatives to riding on freeways and expressways. If we had gotten started railbanking the Annie and Mary line tens years ago instead of two weeks ago, it's possible that Greg would have been riding on that completed trail instead of on the shoulder in front of that pick-up truck driver who swerved onto the shoulder and hit him. He would have arrived home to his wife Monday evening, and would still be with us.