Community Honors Cyclist Alex Rozos; Calls for Enhanced Bike Safety Measures
ASHEVILLE, N.C. Bike Community Mourns Loss of Fellow Cyclist
On Friday, August 2, a community gathered in unified sorrow in Asheville at one of the city’s top climbing gyms, Cultivate Climbing. They were there to celebrate and remember the life of one of their own, Alexander Rozos, who lost his life tragically in a hit-and-run accident.
The 30-year-old Rozos was known and loved for his enthusiasm for cycling and outdoor activities. He was an avid climber, frequently visiting Cultivate Climbing for his climbing exercises. But it was on Thursday, July 18, that Rozos met his fatal end. While riding his bicycle traveling west near the 300 block of Swannanoa River Road, Rozos was struck by a box truck. The culprit, Mauricio Roberto Melgar Delgado, fled the scene, adding salt to the injury of Rozos’ sudden departure.
A Life Cut Short; A Legacy that Lives On
Alex’s father Michael Rozos shared a final memory of his son and said, “Wednesday, July 17, was the last day I spent with my son. We sat right out here. He was in a state of Zen, satisfied with his life. He said if he died in an hour from that moment, he felt like he hadn’t wasted a second.” His words now carry the weight of untimely premonition as the following day brought the horrifying news.
The celebration of Alex’s life was filled with his favorite activities like climbing and a fireside gathering. Friends and family shared beautiful memories of Alex, remembering the bright spirit he had. As the fire crackled warmly in the background, the sense of loss became more profound but also brought forth a powerful resolve from the community.
Call for Better Bike Safety Measures
Amid the remembrance, the issue of bike safety in Asheville came to the forefront. It is a well-established fact that Asheville’s biking infrastructure needs improvement. Michael used this platform to further emphasize this point, saying, “If we just save two lives a year by advancing bike safety in Asheville faster, then in a decade, that’s 20 people. What’s it worth to save 20 people so they don’t have to go through what I’m going through this week?”
Invigorated with the memory of Alex and retaining his spirit, the community is now calling for better bike safety measures. Such incidents should serve as reminders of how precarious the situation can be for cyclists and the urgency of enhanced safety measures.
Bike Safety is a Right not a Privilege
There is a recognized need for more protected bike lanes, the implementation of traffic-calming measures, and the enforcement of stringent penalties for those who violate cyclist safety norms. Remembering Alex Rozos should go beyond just mourning; it should lead to meaningful change that makes bike riding safer for everyone in Asheville.
The memory of Alex Rozos lives on, not in sadness, but in the hope and motivation for much-needed change. The community’s call is clear and strong. It is time for local authorities to recognize and act on it.
