'Tour De Flushing' Bike Ride Memorializes Toddler Killed In Crash

FLUSHING, QUEENS — An estimated 200 cyclists hit the streets and parks of Eastern Queens on Sunday for the third annual Tour de Flushing, a miles-long bike ride to draw attention to the highlights — and shortcomings — of the borough's biking infrastructure.

The ride honored the memory of Allison Hope Liao, a toddler killed in 2013 in a car crash on Flushing's Main Street.

State Sen. John Liu and Assembly Member Nily Rozic were among the participants who went on the 15-mile ride, which included an optional four-mile leg through the new protected bike lanes on Northern Boulevard to Douglaston.

"The Tour de Flushing is an opportunity to showcase all that our borough has to offer cyclists — vast parkland, growing bike paths, and fun food," Rozic said in a statement.

This year's Tour de Flushing follows reports that 15 cyclists have been killed so far this year. Ten cyclists died in crashes in 2018.

Vaccaro and White, a law firm that represents injured cyclists and other crash victims, sponsored the ride.

"Each year, the Tour de Flushing gives hundreds of riders the opportunity to ride the beautiful greenways and streets of Eastern Queens," Juan Restrepo, Queens organizer for Transportation Alternatives, said.

"The parks are amazing to ride on, but we are pleased to see the city continuing to put in more bike lanes as well," Restrepo added." We encourage the city to continue its efforts to put more bike lanes in Downtown Flushing and the greater Eastern Queens area."