Metro New York: Vigil for slain cyclist who lived ‘every second’

More than a hundred people lit candles and walked in silence along Union Avenue Sunday night to remember the life and commemorate the tragic death of Craig Murphey, a 26-year-old man who was killed when his bicycle collided with a truck last week. Murphey, who worked with the West Harlem Action Network Against Poverty and founded a scheme to bring fresh produce to low income communities, was remembered as “iconic” and “unique” by his friends.

“He always put people ahead of himself,” said friend Greg Bersnitz. “People often talk about doing that. But he lived it.”

Following the procession, Murphey’s friends gathered around a ghost bike memorial at Ten Eyck Street and Union Avenue, near where he was killed. They laid candles and flowers and told stories about Murphey’s life — frequently bursting into laughter followed by tears.

Many wore customized black Chicago Cubs T-shirts with Craig’s name written inside the logo, in honor of his signature T-shirt.

“The impact he had on people was so huge, whether they knew him for one day, one year or 10 years,” said Lyssa Ichikawa, Murphey’s former roommate, who led the vigil. “He was amazing … If you look at his last day he was really living every second.”

Several of Murphey’s friends said they were surprised at the number of people who turned out for the vigil.

“It’s sort of an amazing turnout,” said Jim Vanblaricum, a friend who plans to launch a memorial charity. “There are a lot of people who were part of Craig’s life here, but it seems like there are a lot of people I don’t even know. It’s a pretty fitting tribute.”

How it happened

Murphey was killed early last Thursday morning while riding home from a party in the Lower East Side. Police reports said he was riding on the wrong side of Union Avenue when he was hit. Friends have disputed the account, saying that Murphey was an experienced cyclist who rode from Brooklyn to Harlem every day.