Hit-run victim's dad angry at abuse
It was only with the support of family and friends that Ian Anderson was able to get back on his bike after his son Tim was killed in March 2012 when he was hit by a drunk driver.
But Mr Anderson remains horrified by the behaviour he sees on Perth roads, including passing motorists hurling abuse at cyclists and throwing objects out of their cars.
Mr Anderson has lobbied to improve cyclist safety since Ross Thomas Murray struck Tim, 26, as he rode along Curtin Avenue in Mosman Park. Tim was wearing high-visibility clothing, a helmet and had lights on his bike when he was hit.
His family have established a charity ride in his honour to promote road safety and to raise money for a scholarship set up in his name.
Mr Anderson said he continued to see a lack of respect on roads.
"You continually have people yelling abuse, getting as close as they can to you, missing you by millimetres," he said.
"A lot of riders I'm riding with have ridden all around the world and they say that WA is the worst place they've ever ridden as far as dealing with road traffic."
Tim, a chemical engineer who worked around the world before returning to Perth to do a master's degree in energy efficiency, had been training for the Enjo team ahead of the Ride for Youth event at the time of his death.
Enjo now sponsors Tim's Ride and founder Barb de Corti said it was a fitting way to remember a man who gave so much to others.
"We can't change the past but we can influence the future," she said. "It's all about prevention and encouraging the community to share the roads."
Registrations are now open for Tim's Ride, to be held at sunset on November 15 along 26km and 5km routes and including a stop at Tim's roadside memorial. The ride has also been approved for a "green light corridor".
For more information, visit www.timsride.com.au .
