Bike ride honors cycling victims

Hundreds of cyclists turned out Sunday to honor two Laguna Beach residents killed while riding their bikes in the past year.

They gathered at Heisler Park for an invocation remembering Debra Deem and John Colvin, and then rode north along Coast Highway toward Newport Coast Drive. Deem and Colvin died while cycling on Coast Highway.

In August, Deem, 58, was riding west on East Coast Highway in Newport Beach when she and a white minivan collided just east of Newport Coast Drive, the Daily Pilot reported.

Colvin, 55, sustained fatal injuries last month when a Toyota Prius hit him as he rode along North Coast Highway near Emerald Bay, police said.

Hundreds of residents filled Laguna Beach City Council chambers last week urging city leaders to make bicycle safety a top priority.

Colvin’s family has asked that donations in his honor be made to the Orange County Bicycle Coalition at ocbike.org via the “DONATE” tab on the right side of the home page, or by sending a check to the coalition at 405 E. Wilson Ave., Orange, 92867.

—Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @AldertonBryce