Bike Baton Rouge Statement on the death of Councilman Amoroso
6/30/18, Baton Rouge, LA
Bike Baton Rouge is deeply saddened to learn of the death of councilman Buddy Amoroso after he and his friend Thomas Clement were hit by a car in St. Francisville earlier today. We’d like to extend our deepest sympathies to the families of Mr. Amoroso and Mr. Clement.
Amoroso was an avid bicyclist and an ardent supporter of all things bicycle related. Bike Baton Rouge most recently crossed paths with him at the Pedaling for Peace event, held last weekend, which was was held to bring awareness to the high rates of violence in Baton Rouge and to honor those who have lost their lives. Buddy rode a grey cruiser, and chatted with bicyclists, police officers, and members of the public during the course of the event.
St Francisville and the nearby Tunica Hills are a popular location amongst bicyclists from across the capital region, as the rolling hills, the scenic views, and the low levels of traffic make for excellent biking. Unfortunately, this is not the area’s only bicyclist fatality in recent memory - Elisabeth Oliver, an LSU professor, was killed in June of 2015 on La 952.
We ask - we PLEAD - with motorists to drive carefully, to pay attention to the road, and to stay at home if they’ve been drinking - particularly if they plan on driving around more vulnerable road users such as bicyclists and pedestrians. And we ask that those entrusted to write and enforce our laws - our councilpersons, mayors, senators, congresspersons, law enforcement officials, and traffic engineers - we ask them to step up and help end carnage that affects bicyclists every day in Louisiana and the United States by passing sensible laws and ordinances, by enforcing those laws, and by building better roads that accommodate all road users.
If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. Councilman Amoroso, we can say with certainty, was always part of the solution.
For more information, visit bikebr.org, look up Bike Baton Rouge on facebook, or email Bike Baton Rouge at info@bikebr.org
Mika Torkkola
225 571 2906
info@bikebr.org
Bike Baton Rouge is a local non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization and has been dedicated to making bicycling trips in Baton Rouge safer and more enjoyable since 2006.