“Gloria was a really good friend of mine. If you’ve ever heard the expression work wife — I think that might have been appropriate,” Humpert said. Since Gloria passed, many community members have signed petitions and advocated for bike safety lanes and more measures to be put in place throughout northern Kentucky.
On Wednesday, officials met to discuss what could be done to improve bike safety. Covington City Leaders released a statement saying they met with Newport officials, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Devou Good Foundation, and Tri-State Trails to talk about the concern of bike safety and believe an agreement was reached to help protect bikers on the Licking Valley Girl Scout Bridge into Newport.
Covington also has $100,000 they will be figuring out how to use for safety improvements for pedestrians and non-motorists near the bridge. The Licking Valley Girl Scout Bridge will soon be safer for bicyclists.
Humpert said he heard it’s going to be a Qwick Kurb that goes in. He said it’s a step in the right direction.“This is a bandaid, but it is an urgent needed thing and I think it will help folks realize that it doesn’t take that much energy or money to make the road more accommodating to road users that are more vulnerable and aren’t cars,” Humpert said.
He knows his friend Gloria would be proud seeing some changes made and steps taken in the right direction to ensure bicyclists and others not traveling by car are safe.
“You shouldn’t have to make decisions based on whether or not you think you’ll be killed by a car. I think she’ll be really happy to know that there are going to be some better alternatives for folks traveling that way soon,” he said.
Humpert said they will have a memorial for Gloria on Saturday Sept. 17 from 2-8p.m. at Orchard Park.