It’s been about a year and a half since 18 year old Zach Manago was killed in a hit and run accident.
He had been riding his bicycle near Wheeler Army Airfield when he was hit.
This weekend, bicyclists are riding across Oahu in memory of Zach and to raise safety awareness.
Zach Manago was passionate about safer bicycling facilities .. and wanted to make Hawaii safer so that more people could ride their bikes.
He never got to fulfill that vision.
So these people .. are helping to carry on Zach’s dream.
Chad Taniguchi with the Bicycling League said, "we’re just riding to get people to realize that, really no one needs to die on our highways we just need to obey the laws, drive the speed limit look out for each other."
Members of the Hawaii Bicycling League embarked on a special tribute ride for Zach on Saturday, 68 miles from Wahiawa, around Kaena Point and back to the State Capitol in town.
Along the way they spoke with elected officials and police.
Chief Louis Kealoha with the Honolulu Police Department said, "there’s an enforcement effort with those motorists who violate those bicycle right away laws."
The group also got special permission to ride thorough military property .. By going through the Admiral’s Boat House gate on the Pearl Harbor Bike Path.
"He wanted bike lanes all over the place, so I mean it took Zach’s ride and Zach’s spirit to open this gate because it’s been closed for 10 years," said Taniguchi.
The City is making strides towards bicycle safety.
Two months ago, Mayor Carlisle signed a bill into law, establishing a Complete Streets policy, to make our streets safer for everyone.
The new policy calls for a checklist when planning any transportation project from here on out.
This is the second year the Hawaii Bicycling League has held a tribute ride for Zach.
Dennis Manago, Zach’s father said, "What started off as Zacks ride I think is starting to become something of just something a little bit more of what we anticipated so that’s pretty amazing that what had started off to be and what it is and what its becoming is really unbelievable."
And the ride continues Sunday.
Meanwhile, the driver who killed Zach was eventually caught.
Douglas Curtis pled no contest and was sentenced to ten years in prison.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
