Over the weekend, Harrisburg lost one of its most dedicated and charismatic public advocates, Ross Willard.
Ross was the founder and force behind Recycle Bicycle, which gave away hundreds, perhaps thousands, of bikes over the course of the past 25 years—mostly to people who, otherwise, couldn’t afford them. He also taught bicycle repair and safety, and pressed, often against considerable odds and opposition, for bike-friendly streets and infrastructure.
Around Harrisburg, it was hard to miss Ross. Sure, he spent hours nearly every day in his bike workshop on Allison Hill, but he also was a constant presence on city streets and at events. At annual riverfront festivals, he’d gladly babysit your bike as you enjoyed your day, and maybe even tune it up in the process, leaving it in better shape than when you dropped it off…