May there be bicycles in heaven.

Summit & Snelling Ave – Alan Grahn Memorial Ride

The Alan Grahn Memorial ride, hosted by Hilary Louise Hancy and Rob Stepaniak, took place at 6:30PM on May 16, 2018 to celebrate the 75-year life of a husband, father, grandfather and outdoor enthusiast. He also inspired the #SafetyOnSummit movement.

For posterity, here is the video I recorded on the ride (not edited for time / 53m48s).

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVX2uqZAA1k]

 

“It’s been gut-wrenching, it’s been really difficult to understand and absorb,” said Andy Grahn, Alan’s son.
– Cyclists ride to remember bicyclist killed in St. Paul bus crash

 

Hancy knew she had to do something significant — something tangible — to honor a fellow member of her metro-area cycling tribe.
– A group ‘memorial’ ride will honor cyclist killed on St. Paul’s Summit-Snelling

 

I have a friend who knew Alan well, and she’d brought her two kids on the the ride. Earlier we’d given each other big hugs, and there were plenty of people in the group that knew Alan personally and were shaken by his untimely death.
– A Hopeful Sign from the Memorial Ride

 

Skilled philosopher, climber, skier, runner, and biker, proud beer and coffee snob.
– Alan Douglas Grahn Obituary

 

Alan Grahn married his wife, Nancy, in 1969 and they had been married for 48 years when he died. He is survived by a son and daughter, two grandsons, and a younger brother and sister.
– ‘A rich and full life’: Cyclist killed in bus crash was avid outdoorsman

 

When Al Grahn’s children were young, he would take them camping every weekend, his son recalled. He had planned to take Andy Grahn’s 5-year-old son to Albuquerque, New Mexico, next week to go camping for the first time.
– Bicyclist killed in St. Paul crash was 75-year-old outdoorsman, grandpa

 

Alan Grahn’s Facebook posts reflect the life of a grandfather, family man and active outdoorsman. Photos show him hoisting his grandchildren in the air, while others show him scaling cliffs.
– Bicyclist killed in crash with school bus identified as active grandfather

 

Grahn’s family said he was enjoying retirement. He liked to climb, hike and bike.
– Cyclist Killed in St. Paul Crash with School Bus Remembered

 

At the intersection of Summit and Snelling avenues, where bike paths and lanes of heavy traffic come together, Grahn died.
– Cyclist Killed By School Bus Remembered For Love Of Adventure

 

The ride is intended to remember Grahn “and all other cyclists who have been killed while cycling on public roadways,” organizers said online.
– Memorial ride planned for St. Paul cyclist who died in crash

 

“We don’t want another ghost bike,” said Tom Basgen, one of the St. Paul residents who’s organizing for safer bike lanes on Summit Avenue. Basgen stood near Summit and Snelling avenues, where cyclist Alan Grahn was killed last month…
– After fatal crash, a push for bicycle and pedestrian safety on Summit Avenue

 

 

Please keep comments about your endearing memories of the ride and/or Alan. There are other Streets.mn articles for discussion on cycling safety, etc. 

Thank you.