More Than 700 Take Memorial Ride to Honor North Baltimore Cyclist

Hundreds gathered on New Year’s Day to memorialize a fixture of Baltimore’s cycling community.

Thomas Palermo, 41, was killed Saturday, Dec. 27, after being hit by a car on Roland Avenue. He lived with his wife and two children in Anneslie, worked for Johns Hopkins and built custom bike frames.

While more than 700 bicyclists planned to attend the Thursday afternoon memorial bike ride in Palermo’s honor, organizers estimated that approximately 1,500 showed up, the Baltimore Brew reported.

• Funeral Service Planned for Thomas Palermo

The scale of the turnout was fitting, according to the fallen cyclist’s niece, who told WJZ that Palermo had a “huge personality.” She said her uncle “would love it” to see so many people out bicycling.

Participants went on a ride a little over 3 miles, meeting at 3:30 p.m. at Bishop Square Park off University Parkway and cycling to the site where Palermo was hit in the 5700 block of Roland Avenue.

The route to Roland Park was flooded with “a sea of wheels,” WJZ reported.

A ghost bike, or white bicycle frame, was mounted to a pole by the crash site in memory of Palermo.

“Tom was incredibly passionate about bicycles, whether it was mountain bikes, road bikes, hybrids...Tom loved them all,” his brother-in-law Jeff Hulting said to the crowd. His family hoped Palermo’s death may raise awareness that could save other cyclists’ lives, he added, issuing a plea urging cyclists, pedestrians and drivers to be considerate of one another.

“Tom would want everyone to go for a ride,” Hulting said, “and to come home safe.”

Nobody has been charged as of Jan. 1 in Palermo’s death. The Baltimore City Police Department, which is handling the investigation, said authorities wanted to take time to “get it right,” according to WBAL.

• Maryland Bishop Investigated in Fatal Bike Crash

Those who turned out for Thursday’s ride said it was not the lack of charges that they were focused on during the event.

“We want to make sure justice prevails, but today is not about the judicial system,” Greg Hinchcliffe, executive director of Baltimore cycling group Bikemore, told WBAL. “It’s a remembrance of Tom.”

A memorial service to honor Thomas Palermo will be held Saturday, Jan. 3.

Photo Credit: David Marks

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• Bicyclists Plan Two Memorial Rides for Thomas Palermo
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• Maryland Bishop Accused of Killing Cyclist Has Drunk Driving History