Dave Knickerbocker
Dave Knickerbocker at the parade
It’s that time of year again!! The Closer to Free Ride is Saturday 09.08.17. This is Connecticut’s most organized cycling ride which is now in its 8th year. The vision to start this ride was formed in 2009 with the opening of Smilow Cancer Hospital. Riders decide how long they will bike for, 10, 25, 62.5 or 100 miles, with many rest stops along the way manned all by volunteers. The ride starts by passing Smilow Cancer Hospital where many patients and staff come out to cheer on the riders, which is an amazing site. Riders ride alongside cancer patients and survivors as they cycle all throughout Connecticut. They return to New Haven where the ride culminates in the Yale Bowl where they pass through a spectacular finish line.
One hundred percent of the funds raised by ride participant supports patient care and research at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center.
Members of the New Haven Police Emerald Society will be directing bicycle traffic as the approach and pass through the final turn of the ride, located at Chapel Street and Central Avenue. This is a special time for the Emerald Society as we do it in honor of one of our own, Dave Knickerbocker, who lost his heroic battle with cancer. Dave was a retired Sergeant who was with the New Haven Police Department. Dave served in many departments within the New Haven P.D. which included Patrol, Mounted Unit, Narcotics and Robbery/Burglary. He was the Sergeant at Arms and an Executive Board member for the Emerald Society for 16 years.
Come down to Chapel and Central after 8am. and help us direct the bicycle traffic. If you can’t come down all day come down and spend a few minutes with us there, which will give the guys a few minutes to have a sandwich. We will have food and beverages there. After that take a walk around the finish line and visit with some of the riders, vendors and food trucks. I’ll see you there!
If you want to learn more about the ride click here.