The Safe Streets campaign is dedicated to the incredible individuals that have lost their lives in bicycle//car crashes in South Carolina. These courageous and exemplary individuals will forever remain in our hearts. Click on any of the photos below to read the narratives of these individuals, written by loved ones who knew them best.



Matt Burke



Jesse Gamble
I would like to tell you a little about my son, Jesse Gamble. Jesse was extremely talented, in various ways, but most importantly in visual arts. People were always attracted to Jesse because of his ability to make them laugh, and his acceptance of others, no matter their ethnicity or views. He was the kind of friend that everyone wanted to have. He would give you the shirt off his back, and in many cases he did.

Jesse rode his bike to conserve gas, help the environment, and he just truly enjoyed riding. He had told me a few days before the accident that riding his bike after working on his feet for several hours actually helped him relax, and that being out in the fresh air was rejuvenating. He was doing what he thought was right for himself and our environment.

When I was in my 20's I would ride my bike 10+ miles a few days a week. It was difficult back then to have motorists yield to cyclist; now it is even worse with more cars on the road, people drinking and driving, having cell phones in hand, and just living in the fast paced world we are in. I miss my son every day and will for the rest of my life. I believe that safer streets certainly would have saved his life.

- Lynn Finley (Jesse's Mom)


Edwin Gardner
Just who was Edwin? A man you couldn't help noticing if you crossed paths at any one of his many haunts—art openings, committee meetings, Spoleto gigs, the library, the marina, Fast & French, Circular Congregational Church, Blue Bicycle Books…. He stood out because of his theatrical mannerisms, dapper attire, fantastic impressions, outrageously loud smile, and for his frequent (and spunky) sidekick, daughter Olive. While you first noticed Edwin for his physical stature, you quickly realized that his true stature had little to do with that lanky build of his and everything to do with his broad intellect and his deep and wide passions.

Edwin was a man about town in the best sense of the phrase. He was about making this town and this region, a better, safer, healthier place to live. He believed in community, in civic engagement. Edwin, alongside wife Whitney Powers, was an advocate for smart urban growth and design. He believed that Charleston should and could be pedestrian- and bike-friendly; that public schools—especially those downtown—should offer exceptional educational opportunities to all children; that empowering kids to build boats and row together as a crew could change their lives. As Tom Bradford of the bicycle advocacy group Charleston Moves put it, Edwin "lived as he believed. He lived a very considered life." Many were stunned to learn he was 64 because he lived like he were half that age. 

Edwin, who served as president of the Harleston Village Neighborhood Association, was on the Peninsula Task Force's transportation committee and often at school board meetings, was wildly creative, robustly curious, and enormously enthusiastic. He was not afraid to ruffle feathers, or, if need be, raise hell. Even if you didn't agree with him, you were smitten by his verve, his smarts, and his wit. As local author and Blue Bicycle Books owner Jonathan Sanchez wrote in a City Paper tribute… "He never said a dull thing." And as Mayor Riley told The Post and Courier, "If he was in your neighborhood, you had a better neighborhood; if you knew him, you had a better life."

- Stephanie Hunt (article featured in Charleston Magazine)


Rachel Giblin
Rachel would not want us to be sad with her passing. She would want us to continue to accept life's challenges and to live life to its fullest. We will always remember her with a twinkle in her eye and love for all in her heart.

In the following poem, Rachel describes herself when she was in the 7th grade:


Again in her own words, Rachel describes her love of cycling in a poem she wrote in 8th grade:

Left foot, right foot, left foot, right...
The rhythms of life turn like my wheels on the pavement.
Fresh air fills my nostrils and my lungs as my
Mind wanders on the never changing, ever changing landscapes.
I have the freedom of the road and of my destiny.

- Becky Giblin (Rachel's mom)


Tom Hoskins
Tom must have been born on a bike. Some of the earliest stories of his childhood were centered around exploring the world from the seat of his two-wheeler. He earned his first wages riding a bike on a paper delivery route for The State Newspaper. During his college years, he was a bicycle delivery boy in downtown Atlanta.

When Tom became a father he discovered that he could spend quality time with his family while incorporating his passion for cycling with fundraising efforts for worthy causes. All three of our children, Rob, Ryan and Becca became his partner in these efforts. Various charities that they supported included the Tour de Cure (Juvenile Diabetes), Ms150 (Multiple Sclorosis), Hinds Feet Farm (a camp for children with brain injuries) and The Big Ride (brain injury awareness). As Tom's wife, I had long since given up riding with Tom (he was too fast) and became the team's cook and SAG support leader.

Tom loved to gather friends and family together to train and compete to see who could raise the most money for charitable causes. Competition for "Top Banana" was fierce but when Tom developed solicitation letters (addressed from the children) to encourage friends and family to give generously he always came out in the lead.

Tom was team captain for the BellSouth Cycling team and then, AT&T cycling team. He organized training rides, marked routes and designed the cycling jerseys. Tom would enlist sponsors to place their logos on the jerseys in exchange for donations to offset the cost of the shirts. He could be very convincing. The team participated in numerous safety fairs for the public where they demonstrated bicycle safety practices and gave away helmets to children.

Tom believed that we should live life to the fullest, each and every day. Tom's example to family and friends was to work hard, play hard and love God and family with all your heart. His favorite mantra was the following: When life's trials become a bit much to endure, God told us not to worry, be happy, He is in control. Keep the wind at your back and ride, baby, ride.

- Sherri Hoskins Harrison


Ralph Nugent
Ralph Nugent was a local advocate for bicycle safety and motorist awareness. Being an employee of DuPont and Invista for fifty years, Ralph was a safety conscious individual. Those who knew him personally describe a man dedicated to making the road safer for cyclists. He played an active role in community efforts by helping to identify dangerous areas where he felt "Share the Road" signs were needed.

Ralph's widow, Dottie, encourages cyclists to be aware and cautious. Ralph's daughter, Amy, would like her father's legacy of safety and active healthy lifestyles to carry on in everyone. She especially wants people to continue loving their sport, to get off the couch no matter what their age or excuse, and to "Live Strong".


William Wilson
William was born the third of five brothers in Columbia, South Carolina. William was an outdoor enthusiast—he enjoyed cycling, camping, hiking, skiing, fishing, being on and in the water.…and he was good at it all! 

William's smile could light a room and although he was quiet, he did not need words to let you know he cared. He always led by example and his actions spoke for him. William was a son, brother, cousin, friend, and much more, indeed a valued pillar to his community. William loved a challenge and was not afraid of hard work—in fact, he enjoyed it and thrived on it.  He loved new adventures and was passionate about so many things in his life.  Running was one of his greatest passions and he excelled at it, having benefited from many awards and honors in the sport. He earned the nickname 'the machine' because he could do anything and made it look easy.

His love for running continued after college graduation, and he was in training for the Kiawah Island Marathon when he was killed. In his absence, a group of friends and family ran in his honor. This race was only a few months after William's death, bringing us closer together through him. William was a Citadel graduate and an incredible leader.

The William Wilson 5k was created after William's death to enable many individuals all over the community to share his energy and keep his memory alive. Join us on August 20, 2011 in the second year of this wonderful event.

- Maura Wilson, William's mom


Garrett Wonders
Garrett Wonders was a naval officer, nuclear engineer, cyclist, teacher, Olympic hopeful, son, friend and husband. Garrett is remembered for the way he lived and the positive impact he had on the lives of others. Off the bike, Garrett was unassuming with a perpetual smile and a sense of balance. On the bike, he was remarkably encouraging to others when training and fiercely competitive when racing. He was an encouraging, inspirational character who remains so, forever in our hearts. View this bicycle safety PSA, produced several years ago by the Garrett Wonders Memorial Fund.