— Friends of a bicyclist killed early Friday spoke Monday about his love for his family and the need for more awareness on the roads.

Officials with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said 36-year-old Jason Markley was struck by a car at about 6:30 a.m. Friday on NC-751 near Luther Road. As Markley attempted to make a left turn, the driver of a Chevrolet Pickup struck him from behind.

Markley died on impact.

Markley’s death has been hard on his friends and family and on the bicycle community as a whole. Those who loved him are now devoted to getting the word out about bicycle safety.

Nanci Blackert said that, first and foremost, Markley loved his family. She also said he was generous and left an impression.

“Jason was the most doting dad there ever was. He would have moved the mountains to do anything for his wife and kids,” she said.

Jim Pullen said it’s time for drivers to think seriously about how they view people on bicycles.

“What I would ask drivers to do is pretend that’s your brother, your father, your sister; somebody you know and love that’s on that bicycle,” he said.

Just days before Markley was killed, two other cyclists were injured in a hit-and-run in Cary.

Pullen, who has been cycling for decades, said he knows the difference between a nervous driver and a careless driver. Both extremes can be deadly, he said.

‘The best thing a driver can do when it comes up on a cyclist or a group of cyclists is slow down, pass when it’s safe to pass and pass efficiently and quickly,” he said.

“Wherever they think they need to be is not more important than that person, than that person coming home tonight to their family," Blackert said.

Pullen said a common rule of thumb is to give cyclists three feet of space as you’re passing.

Ramsey Capps, 42, was the driver of the truck that hit Markley. He has been charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision and misdemeanor death by vehicle.