Steven Barbour died July 22, four days after he was struck by a vehicle on Cemetery Road in Hilliard. Police suspected the driver was under the influence of alcohol, and originally charged him with aggravated vehicular assault.

Sunday's gathering recognized Barbour as a leader of the local cycling community. Fellow riders told 10TV they loved to ride with him.

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"I consider him a gentleman," Eve Husk said. "For eight years, we did long rides like 254 miles."

Those rides now mark more than milestones. They serve as a memorial to Barbour. A bike painted in shades of white was placed along Cemetery Road to shadow the area where Barbour was hit July 18. His sister and his mother put it in place Sunday.

"He was going to take a long trip next month, cross country from San Diego to St. Augustine, Florida," Barbour's mother, Carol said. "He was just looking forward to that. He said next year, 'I'm going to do the northern route.' Maybe he'll still do it. I don't know. We don't know what's beyond us."

In memory of Barbour's spirit and love for the sport, hundreds of cyclists then rode the Heritage Trail. The ride came with a message to motorists.

"We're hoping to show everybody that we're real here. We have to be able to ride somewhere, and that we really care about safety and care about having lost Steve," Valentine Cooper said.

Some also had a message for fellow riders to be vigilant.

"This is a memorial to a bicyclist who was safe and experience, and put in many many thousands of miles per year," cyclist Betty Cook said. "And if it can happen to him, it can happen to anybody. So we all have to be very cautious."

The driver accused of hitting Barbour, Edward S. Miller, 28, of Newark, has been indicted on four criminal charges including vehicular manslaughter and operating a vehicle under the influence.

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Previous Stories:

August 13, 2009: Cyclist's Death Brings Calls For Sharing Road
August 12, 2009: Driver Indicted In Bicyclist's Death
July 22, 2009: Police: Alcohol Was Factor In Bicyclist's Death

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