The Third Annual Mickey Shunick Memorial Bike Ride will be held tonight.
The ride departs from Rotary Point at 6 p.m.
The ride has celebrated the life of Mickey Shunick on the anniversary of the resolution establishing the Mickey Shunick Memorial Bike Loop in her honor.
This year, the organization has partnered with the Judice family to also honor JeanPaul Judice who was killed last year while walking his bike.
TRAIL will provide free bike rentals with ID and drinks and organizers encourage all residents to attend.
"This event has become an annual tradition. What began as an effort to save the West Bayou Parkway bike lanes has become a way we can honor Mickey and build community through cycling. This year, we are honored to also partner with the Judice Family and honor their son JeanPaul who was also killed while on a bike," said Mark deClouet, Forward Lafayette organizer.
Organizers also plan to go to Corner Bar on Johnston Street following the completion of the ride.
Remi Judice, JeanPaul’s father, shared the following statement regarding the ride and his son JeanPaul’s legacy:
"We were surprised and honored when Forward Lafayette asked if they could honor our son, JeanPaul Judice for this year’s 3rd annual Mickey Shunick Bike Loop Ride. JeanPaul was struck and killed by a motorist on Martin Luther King Day, while walking his bike with his brother, Ethan, not 300 yards from his home. Not unlike Mickey, JeanPaul was happy to ride his bike to destinations all over Lafayette. He used his bike to attend SLCC, he rode across the city to visit and relax in the Horse Farm, and he loved riding to his grandmother’s house to spend the day with her. All of these places took him many miles across town, along streets without bike paths or sidewalks, for that matter, only to discover the most dangerous place for a bicycle was anywhere you walked or rode. Unfortunately, for all of Lafayette’s positive publicity as the "Friendliest City" in the country, the same cannot be said for anyone riding a bike, either for enjoyment, exercise, or necessity.
"JeanPaul wanted to change this world. His dreams seemed idealistic at the time, but we believe that JP would have grinned a huge smile by being honored for this ride. We know that he would appreciate if all of his friends and the community he loved would come out and spend an hour to show that Lafayette is moving forward to make riding a bike a safe and common experience. We hope that his energy continues to ripple across the universe."
