A Benefit Anchored In Hope
On a Saturday night in August, hundreds gathered to raise money for the victim of a terrible bike accident — local bike enthusiast, former AS220 barman, and tireless Recycle-A-Bike mentor Brendan Ryan. Supporters sold steeply discounted bike gear and scrumptious foods, raffled off many prizes, and played games. Local bands rocked. Besides the music and the hijinks, something else happened that night: a community pulled together for one of its own.
Brendan’s accident deeply altered his life’s course and a lot of other people’s lives as well, which makes it difficult to talk about. This difficulty gave rise to an active response. The benefit demonstrated solidarity, and showed a support system that didn’t need to be created because it was already in place.
The event also reflects a sea change in local attitudes regarding bike safety, especially in context (and too-often-perceived contrast) of hip urban fashion. Providence normally swarms with helmetless riders. Many cyclists took immediate stock of the safety concerns most of us have habitually downplayed — taking our bikes in for tune-ups, and acquiring safety accessories, before hitting the streets again.
Some people do utilize bicycles rather than cars for transportation. That this is perceived as some sort of “wacky life-decision” or “passing phase” rather than a practical choice, especially in such a small city as Providence, is just one of the many results of our car crazed cult(ure). More often than not, cyclists don’t get the consideration they deserve, which they need to maintain their safety. Light-gear, reflectors, and helmets are the rider’s responsibility; but such accommodations as maintaining better road conditions, designating bike lanes, and dissuading aggressive drivers are among the responsibilities of the city’s transportation authority — issues made even more glaringly clear by Brendan’s accident.
By writing about the gathering and sharing some contributed photographs of the Brendan Ryan benefit, The Agenda hopes to affirm, to ourselves and everyone else, that there is a network, strong in number, able to rally around a member of the community and effect change. That change can be made by donating money to help with hospital bills, as benefit-attendees did, or it could be by broadening the conversation to include more and more people.
