PORTLAND Hours. (KPTV) – On Saturday, Portland’s cycling community remembered two of their own, both killed in separate crashes on the same day in Northeast Portland.

A memorial service began corner of Northeast Marx Street and 105th Avenue, where Damon Cousins ​​was struck and killed while riding his bicycle around 9 a.m. on Oct. 21, his family says.

“It’s always very scary when you hear someone has been killed on a bike. Hearing two people is even worse,” said Kiel Johnson, vice president of advocacy group BikeLoud PDX.

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They joined the Safe Streets family to demand more accountability from both drivers and the city.

“Your first instinct is always, ‘Is there somebody I know that’s been hit and killed?'” Johnson said.

After a vigil in Cousins’ honor, the group biked four miles through Northeast Portland — a trip Johnson described as “dangerous” — to Northeast Glisan and 128th.

An unidentified motorcyclist was killed there in a hit-and-run at 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 21.

Portland police said the two were the third and fourth bicyclists killed in traffic accidents in 2024.

Johnson said the intersection with Northeast Glisan is a perfect example of how Portland’s cycling infrastructure is failing the community.

“In front of where this person was killed, there is a cement barrier, a physical barrier, but where they were hit, it’s just paint and plastic batons. What we do know is that paint and plastic wands are not enough,” he said. “And there’s a trash can, debris on the bike lanes.”

BikeLoud PDX advocates for 25 percent of Portland trips to be made by bike by 2030. To meet that goal, Johnson said the city needs to make bicycling less deadly.

“Things like this – they will continue to happen as long as our infrastructure is as poor as it is,” he said.

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In addition to adding new infrastructure, Johnson said maintaining Portland’s existing bike lanes is also important and benefits drivers as well.

“I drive and a lot of people drive and bike,” Johnson said. “When I drive, I don’t want to hit and kill anybody, I don’t think anybody wants that.”

Sarah Risser of Families for Safe Streets said cyclists can increase visibility with reflective clothing and lights, but nothing can protect against a careless driver.

“When you’re riding a bike, you’re more vulnerable, and it’s the responsibility — I think — of the people driving the larger vehicles to make sure they’re safe on the road,” Johnson said.

Portland Police are still looking for the driver responsible for the hit and run at NE Glisan and 128th. They are asking anyone with information to contact [email protected], attention Traffic Investigations Unit and reference number 24-269766.

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