Dylan Tarbi

The family of a Buffalo Township boy who died in an accident nearly a year and a half ago is inviting the community to join an event in remembrance of him.

The Butler-Freeport Trail in Buffalo Township will host a memorial bike ride for Dylan Tarbi on Sunday, Sept. 7, starting at 2 p.m. at the Monroe Road trailhead.

Tarbi died in May 2024 at the age of 13 after he was struck by a pickup truck while riding his bicycle on Cole Road in Buffalo Township.

The date of the bike ride, Sept. 7, is significant, as it falls eight days before what would have been Dylan’s 15th birthday.

“His birthday is September the 15th, so we wanted to have it in September just to honor what would have been his 15th birthday,” Robin Tarbi, his mother, said.

The route will take riders from the Monroe Road Trailhead north to the Sarver Road trailhead, passing a memorial bench with Dylan’s name inscribed on it, before returning to Monroe Road — a distance of roughly six miles.

“Our goal is just to really get people out into nature and on that trail and riding their bikes again,” Robin said.

At least 50 people have already signed up to participate in the memorial ride, according to Robin.

“It’s a great turnout. We’re excited,” Robin said. “We just want people to get out and enjoy the trail that he loved so much.”

Walk-up registration to participate in the bike ride will be available on the day of the event and organizers will be selling T-shirts and raffle tickets. For the raffle, the main prize will be a Swft Z.X e-bike valued at $1,200. There will also be basket raffles. UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is bringing its “Hard Heads” program to distribute free bicycle helmets and educate children on bike safety.

Proceeds from the memorial bike ride will fund the newly-established Dylan Tarbi Memorial Fund, which is geared toward supporting youth activities.

The ride will be held rain or shine, Robin said.