Remembering Rebecca Allen, Cyclist Killed By Car
by Allie Comeau on July 24, 2008 
16 comments
It has been a sad week for all of us here at Sierra Trading Post – and for anyone who ever had the good fortune to meet Rebecca Allen.
In what can only be described as a terrible tragedy, our good friend Rebecca was struck and killed by a drunk driver yesterday while riding her bicycle in Fort Collins, CO in the early morning hours.
This senseless act has dealt a crippling blow to Rebecca’s family, friends, former and current coworkers, and the entire community of Fort Collins. We are truly devastated.
Rebecca was doing everything right. She had a helmet on, she was in the bike lane, she was wearing reflective clothing. She took every precaution while riding and would always remind others to do the same.
Rebecca and her adoring husband Greg were avid members of the Fort Collins cycling community – they even met while working at a bike shop called Recycled Cycles in Fort Collins. Their love of the sport inspired many people to take it up. Rebecca’s passion and enthusiasm for cycling, and for life in general, was contagious to everyone around her.
Rebecca also cared deeply about the environment and the outdoors. She strove to live sustainably and wanted to leave the world a better place than she found it. In addition to cycling, she loved to ski, hike, backpack and spend as much time as possible in the mountains. Originally from Wisconsin, Rebecca had since made Fort Collins her home and truly loved living in Colorado.
The Allens have only one car between them (by choice) and Rebecca rode her bike to her office at Colorado State University every day – come rain, shine, sleet, snow or hail. When she worked as a copywriter and buyer at Sierra Trading Post, she even rode her bike the 50 miles from home to STP during bike-to-work week. She was a role model to us all and I feel blessed to have known and learned from her during her all-too-short time on this Earth.
Rebecca, my friend, you are deeply missed and will never be forgotten. You live on in the lessons you taught, the hearts you touched, the trails you blazed, and the people you inspired. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Greg and all of Rebecca’s family and friends during this heartbreaking time. We are so sorry for your loss.
Memorial Service:
All services are open to the public.
Thursday, July 24: Visitation, 4-7 p.m., Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive Ave.
Friday, July 25: Funeral, 1 p.m., CSU Oval on the southeast end; reception, 2:30-4:45 p.m., Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant, 143 W. Mountain Ave.
Allen’s family has asked that funeral attendants dress casually, wear flip-flops and ride their bikes to the ceremony.
July 23rd, 2008 @ 12:13 pm
How tragic. Rebecca sounds like a lovely woman with a great passion for life. I am so sorry for her family and friends.
July 23rd, 2008 @ 1:38 pm
Why do these things always happen to the best of people?
Rebecca is an inspiration to live life to the fullest and to never take a single day for granted. Rest in peace, Rebecca.
July 23rd, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
Thanks, Allie, for those words–you put it all so perfectly. Rebecca was such an inspiration and she will be missed by many, many people. Goodbye Rebecca, I sure will miss your smiling face.
July 23rd, 2008 @ 7:27 pm
I was re-routed off of Drake yesterday morning because of an accident. I hoped that nobody had been seriously hurt, and then read about Rebecca in the school newspaper this morning.
I am so sorry for your loss, and for all of her friends and family. I did not know her, but Rebecca sounds like a wonderful person.
This accident is shocking and so unlikely. Drake is a wide road with nice bike lanes, and they were out early before traffic. I ride my bike and my motorcycle down this road in much worse conditions. Reading about this accident really shook me up.
July 24th, 2008 @ 5:25 am
Thanks, Allie, for this heartfelt and beautifully written tribute to Rebecca. She made such a difference in all of our lives and we will miss her tremendously. God bless you, Rebecca. Your wonderful legacy will one day ease our sorrows.
July 24th, 2008 @ 9:48 am
Allie, I don’t know what to say. Your tribute was beautiful and I send thoughts and prayers from Vegas.
July 24th, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
Allie, someone at CSU suggested I read your post and I’m glad I did. You captured the spirit of Rebecca. I worked across the hall from her the past year in the JTC department(In fact, on Monday I was teasing her about the frog tattoo on her leg!). From what you wrote here, she didn’t change at all after switching jobs. Truly a spectacular person. I came to think of her as the little sister I never had. We are all devastated by what has happened, but as you say, we’re taking some solace in having gotten a chance to spend time with her, if only for a little while. I find myself telling people like Kate C (who posted earlier)that if they could have had the chance to know Rebecca, they REALLY would have liked her. I know you would agree. Thanks again for your thoughts. Take care.
July 24th, 2008 @ 3:21 pm
Thank you all your thoughts, prayers and comments. The world was robbed of a beautiful spirit on Tuesday, but I really do believe she will live on in the hearts of everyone who knew her. She certainly will in mine.
July 24th, 2008 @ 5:21 pm
Allie,
I’ll be saying lots of prayers for Rebecca, her family and you. I know you were close. I was so sorry to have seen the tragic story on the news a few minutes ago. She was a memorable girl with a beautiful spirit!
I hope life gets lighter, soon! Take care of yourself.
July 25th, 2008 @ 7:41 pm
I only knew Becca through my best friend. He went to CSU with her and talked about her often. I saw Becca about a month ago in Ft. Collins and was supposed to go on a ride in Denver tomorrow with her. She was a beautiful, funny girl who everybody enjoyed being around. She will be very greatly missed and thank you for this great tribute to her.
August 12th, 2008 @ 8:52 pm
Hi everyone A big thank you for this wonderful site, it has helped me immensely
August 14th, 2008 @ 11:36 am
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December 28th, 2008 @ 12:35 pm
Becca was my dads cousin and she was so nice! i wish she was still with us!
December 28th, 2008 @ 8:43 pm
Me too, Emily. Me too.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
January 16th, 2009 @ 3:59 pm
01/16/2009 Daniel Price, a 21-year-old Fort Collins man who pleaded guilty in November to vehicular homicide in the death of 32-year-old cyclist Rebecca Allen, was sentenced to eight years in prison today.
There were more than 60 people in District Court Judge Jolene Blair’s courtroom for the hearing, forcing some people to stand.
Price, who had “R. Allen” tattooed on his wrist, had numerous supporters in the courtroom, as did Allen, whose supporters are wearing bicycle pins.
Price was also sentenced to five years of parole, to be served after the prison sentence, and two years of probation, which will be served concurrently with the parole.
It is possible Price will not serve the entire eight years of his prison sentence. The Department of Corrections will determine if he will be released before the completion of the eight years.
Allen, who worked in the journalism department at CSU, was killed early July 22 when a car driven by then 20-year-old Price hit Allen and her cycling partner Jennifer Garvey near the intersection of West Drake Road and Moore Lane. Garvey was injured in the crash but survived.
Blood tests showed Price’s blood-alcohol limit was above the legal level for someone old enough to drink, which Price was not.
Price was expected to receive the sentence as part of his plea.
January 16th, 2009 @ 4:03 pm
We miss her every minute of every day !!!