Death of beloved cyclist leaves Village Idiots Cycling Club members in shock

When it came to safety on a bicycle, Village Idiots Cycling Club President Dawn Zielinski said no one stood out more than Patrick Franklin Sr.

"He was one of my leaders, and he was not afraid to tell people they weren't following the rules," Zielinski said. "He was a leader who you trusted, and who kept the other cyclists in line."

Zielinski and her fellow Village Idiots Cycling Club members are still in shock over the news that Franklin, 67, died Jan. 22 after being hit by truck towing a trailer along El Conquistador Parkway, just east of 43rd Street West in Bradenton.

It wasn't a club activity as Franklin was riding alone.

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The Florida Highway Patrol has provided little information on the accident, noting that it remains an "open investigation" that prevents more details from being released.

The report issued this week by the FHP, said, "A bicyclist (67-Year-old male of Bradenton) was traveling east on El Conquistador, a truck towing a trailer (driven by 59-year-old male of Bradenton) was also traveling east, and a collision occurred. The bicyclist was pronounced deceased."

After the accident, Zielinski immediately sent out a release to Village Idiots club members. One paragraph from the release noted, "Patrick was a long-time VI and a friend to so many in our cycling community. Even for those who might not have known him personally, his presence and spirit were part of what makes this club special. He was kind, welcoming, and deeply connected to the people around him. His loss is felt far and wide."

"This is truly a tragedy and a shock," said Eugene Rider, the vice president of the Florida Bicycle Association and a member of the Village Idiots. "Nobody should be killed for riding a bike. It is heartbreaking. We spend so much time trying to educate the public. He was killed because somebody wasn't paying attention."

News of Franklin's death spread quickly among the club members and they reached out to Franklin's family.

"The way they have reached out to us ... incredible," said Patrick Franklin's daughter, Sarasota's Heather Franklin. "The club and the bicycling was not about the sport (to her father), but about community. It was his love."

Heather Franklin said her father had a Garmin device on his bike that would send her a text message in case of an accident.

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"But his bike would fall over and I would call him," she said. "He would say, "No, my bike just fell over' and we would laugh. I was desensitized to it."

She thought the text she received Jan. 22 was another of those. But it wasn't.

Zielinski said Franklin was an ambassador for the club who would greet riders and make them feel at home. She said he came up with nicknames for many of the riders. He referred to her as "Madame President."

Another example was Village Idiots' member Jennifer Holmen.

"I have ridden with Patrick on a regular basis for 10 years," Holmen said. "He was very laid back and friendly. He would pass by me and say, 'Jen Jen.' He always was so happy to see everyone.

"You never think something like this is going to be one of your people, It's always something that happens to someone else. And the first time it does, it hits so close to home."

Holmen said such news does force cyclists to question how they conduct their hobby.

"Do I find another route?" Holmen asked, noting that Franklin's accident was not in Lakewood Ranch. "Here's the thing, if you are going to be doing this type of activity, there is a possibility of danger. When we first started riding in Lakewood Ranch, it wasn't as high a traffic area. Now, with all the building, it's more congested. So do I find another route? Do I stick to Legacy Trail?

"I don't ride alone because there is strength in numbers. That's my own rule. This shouldn't have happened. This is preventable."

Richard Garrett, the president of the Florida Bicycle Association and a member of the Village Idiots, agrees. 

"We should do better than this," Garrett said. "This brings the reality that cycling has been neglected by the engineers. We have failed to create protected bike lanes. There is a better way to design mobility."

Garrett said Franklin was a longtime riding friend.

"He was the guy who would always stop to help you ... like if you had a flat tire," Garrett said. "He was the guy you wanted to ride with, safe and predictable. This is such a tragedy."

Garrett said Franklin's death motivates him to work harder to call attention to safety for cyclists on the roads. He said cyclists and pedestrians are getting little attention from those building the roads.

He called Florida the "No. 1 death trap" for cyclists in the U.S.

"We need a lot more education," he said. "We have to learn how we reduce our conflict points. I am going to redouble my efforts to make it safer."

Rider called Franklin's death "deeply personal" and calls for the public to understand that "these deaths are not inevitable, they are preventable."

He said according to a Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles report, Florida had 196 bicycle fatalities in 2025, the most in the nation. In Manatee and Sarasota counties combined, there were five bicyclist fatalities.

"Those numbers are real people, real families, and real loss," he said.

Zielinski said the Village Idiots are planning a "Dress Like Patrick (an avid fisherman and kayaker)" theme for their season-opening party that will be 7:30 p.m. March 11 on Lakewood Main Street in Lakewood Ranch. A ride will precede the party beginning at 6 p.m.

Members of Franklin's family already are planning to participate in the Ride of Silence, a national event dedicated to those who have died in bicycle accidents, 6 p.m. May 20 starting at Robarts Arena.

Franklin, who was retired after a career as a fleet manager and diesel mechanic for Woodruff & Sons, was survived by his wife, Pamela Franklin, his mother, Dhavala Shamuga, his daughters, Melissa Richards, Marlina Rodriguez, and Heather Franklin, his sons, Patrick Franklin Jr., Jake Bartholow, and Richard Bartholow, and his siblings, Sally Franklin, Billy Franklin, Debra Jean Poquette, Kelly Franklin, and Manny Hodges.