The news of the tragic death of cyclist Thiago Osorio Cortes in the week of my sister Donna's fourth anniversary, both killed cycling in very close proximity, has obviously deeply saddened me.
My heart goes out to Thiago's family, loved ones, friends and colleagues, and also very much in my thoughts are the cycling and the Brazilian communities in Dublin.
Thiago like Donna was in the prime of his life, so the mourning for what might have been and the decades of "if onlys" add a deep poignancy to the grief. I really hope each member of his family and loved one is surrounded by good people at this time and in the weeks and months to come.
This case is heart breaking on so many levels but one kindness can be afforded his family by those who were in the car involved, and that is very simple; come forward, do the right thing and own up to the Gardai now. Nothing will change what has happened, nothing will bring this young man back, but afford him and his loved ones the dignity they deserve. I can not imagine the torture of a hit and run element to such a horror as it is.
In the four years since Donna died there have been definitely improvements where cycling safety and indeed cycling acceptance is concerned, more needs to be done of course, but we have seen changes. But at the end of the day no amount of changes in legislation, funding or anything forces us as individuals to do the right thing on the roads, personal responsibility does however. We must look out for and care for one another on the roads. Life is fragile and precious.
Always always always remember that IT COULD BE YOU, it could be you injured or killed, it could be you bereaved, it could be you behind the wheel, it could be you that knocks somebody down, Let us all do what we can to ensure we do all possible to safeguard each other on the roads.
Thiago and Donna, different situations but the same in the sense they both got on their bikes and never returned home alive. They both became photographs in a newspaper. They both were too young, too alive, too loved to become a photograph.
