Mary Beth Kelly planned to celebrate her husband’s 57th birthday by riding with him in the NYC Century Bike Tour. Both avid cyclists, Dr. Nacht biked to work everyday and Ms. Kelly often rode with him to her office where she practices psychotherapy. They were riding home from a dinner engagement together on June 22nd of this year when a tow truck crashed into Dr. Nacht, hurling him against an illegally parked tow truck. Dr. Nacht died four days later.

Far from ending her love of cycling, her husband’s death has catalyzed Ms. Kelly’s interest in making the city safe for bicycling. She will lead Transportation Alternatives’ 17th Annual NYC Century Bike Tour on Sunday, September 10th in honor of her husband and all those who have been injured or lost loved ones in bicycle crashes in New York City. Ms. Kelly will be joined by her two children, Zoë and Asher, as well as family friends.

Says Kelly, “I encourage anyone who rides a bike in New York City to participate in this wonderful event. Transportation Alternatives is fighting to make it safer for cyclists and pedestrians 365 days a year, this is one day when we can all come together and ride safely.”

Ms. Kelly says that this event marks the beginning of her campaign to convince Mayor Bloomberg to follow the example of London, Chicago, Paris and other big cities that are adding scores of miles of traffic-protected bike paths every year. New York City only added three miles of bike lanes in 2005.

Transportation Alternatives’ NYC Century Bike Tour is an annual event that now draws over 5,000 participants who bike for better bicycling in New York City. The event gives many occasional and recreational cyclists a taste of bicycling on open New York City streets and encourages them to make bicycling a part of their regular transportation routine. The event is also a fundraiser for Transportation Alternatives, a 5,500 member NYC-area non-profit citizen’s group working for better bicycling, safer, calmer neighborhood streets and car-free parks. For more information about our current programs or for access to previous press clippings please visit www.transalt.org.

Reporters interested in interviewing Ms. Kelly or riding in the NYC Century Bike Tour should contact Dani Simons at 212-629-8080 or events@transalt.org to make arrangements.