Commissioner Diaz to commemorate death of cyclist Aaron Cohen

(MIAMI-DADE COUNTY)  – County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz will commemorate the second anniversary of the death of Miami cyclist Aaron Cohen on Saturday, Feb. 15 from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. at the Rickenbacker Causeway toll plaza entrance.

Cohen’s 2012 death on the Rickenbacker Causeway at the hands of a hit-and-run driver who was sentenced to less than a year in jail sparked a movement to toughen penalties on drivers who flee the scene of an accident.

Joining Commissioner Diaz will be representatives from the Aaron Cohen Law Initiative group. In addition, as part of the Commissioner’s annual “14 Days of Neighborly Love” initiative, Mack Cycle & Fitness will be giving away 500 safety bicycle lights along with a 25 percent store discount card to motorists, and toll plaza attendants will be handing out flyers about safety and sharing the road with cyclists.

“Aaron Cohen’s tragic death focused renewed attention on the need for greater road safety for cyclists and tougher laws against hit-and-run drivers. By committing ourselves to preventing tragedies like the one that took his life, we can ensure that he did not die in vain,” Commissioner Diaz said.

Commissioner Diaz, who spoke at the Florida Senate last month in favor of stricter hit-and-run laws, also is sponsoring a County resolution to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety on the Rickenbacker Causeway, Brickell Avenue, South Bayshore Drive and the surrounding area.