American visitor Martha Susan Hoopes was a woman of strong faith, but her tragic death on Monday while riding a rental cycle has left her church devastated.

The pastor at her church in Illinois has paid tribute to the 39-year-old mother and her husband who remains on the Island with his son and nine-year-old daughter who was riding pillion with her mother and was injured in the road crash.

Reverend Jane Lionberger said the family had been thrilled to visit Bermuda on vacation. She told the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper that Mrs. Hoopes was more usually known by her middle name Susan, had an MBA, was an active member of the Kenilworth Union Church and was on her second visit to the Island with her husband and two children.

Speaking to The Royal Gazette, Rev. Lionberger said: "When I found about Susan's death I was absolutely devastated. The whole church is absolutely devastated.

"She was so gifted, active, so bright. She was the kind of person who everybody would like to know. She was just a lovely person, kind and generous and she never said a bad word about anybody, she was fun to be with.

"She was a woman of very strong faith and not in any sense do I think that God brings this kind of thing about. I think we, as a faith community, will all be struggling with that here.

"But I would want remembered how much Susan loved the Island and how much she was just really looking forward to being there on her vacation."

Rev. Lionberger had been called by Mrs. Hoopes' husband on Monday, following the tragic accident involving the rental bike and a florist van on Middle Road near the junction with Lighthouse Hill.

"He is just a wonderful guy, he's a very strong guy. Obviously, he's absolutely devastated and he's having to take care of his two children," she said.

"His best friend has come (to Bermuda) to be with him and so he has some help and I think he's doing amazingly well."

On Monday night, a Government statement said the Department of Tourism had assigned a member of its staff to offer assistance to the grieving family.

Rev. Lionberger continued: "(Mrs. Hoopes' husband) has said that everybody there has been unbelievable — he couldn't be more complimentary to the Police, the Police Chaplain spent a lot of time with him.

"The hospital has been wonderful in helping him. When I was on the phone with him teddy bears and flowers were coming in.

"He's just overwhelmed by the response by the people of Bermuda and very appreciative."

The Hoopes live in Kenilworth, Illinois and attend Kenilworth Union Church, which is the oldest non-denominational church in the United States, according to Rev. Lionberger, and has around 2,500 members.

Last night the Hoopes' daughter was listed as recovering at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

The dangers faced by tourists renting bikes - particularly those from countries like the US where it is normal to drive on the right-hand side of the road - has been highlighted in past years. The New York Times, in 1987, warned Americans about the dangers of riding rented cycles on Bermuda roads in an article headlined: "Practical Traveller; Approach With Caution: Mopeds for Novice Riders."

It mentions that a brochure on the Island at the time read: "'If you've never ridden before, don't worry.

"You'll have as much time as you need to practice in an open area before hitting the road.'"

The writer continues: "Aside from the overall unfortunate phrasing, 'don't worry' is dangerous advice in regard to motorised transportation.

"It is particularly dangerous for United States drivers in Bermuda and in the Bahamas, too, since traffic flows to the left there, and practice in the parking lot, or even on a practice track, may create a false sense of preparedness for the change."

Many callers to radio talk shows this week, as well as e-mailers, have suggested tourists be banned from renting mopeds, but that isn't dealing with the real problem, says Smatt's Cycles owner Michael Smatt.

He said: "We are not responsible for accidents. We are responsible for ensuring that the tourists have been taught how to ride the bikes properly.

"I'm not sure about the other cycle liveries, but we have a screening process.

"It begins behind the counter by questioning the tourist and determining their experience level.

"And that screening process is then carried outside to the instructor, who will also question the tourist.

"For example, if a tourist comes in and they've had no previous riding experience, then they won't be permitted to ride a double seater with a pillion passenger on the back.

"We've been in the business for more than 60 years and I cannot begin to tell you how many tourists have had a very positive (riding) experience.

"To just say that (tourists) should be banned from riding, to me, is only dealing with the symptom and not the cause.

"The cause is two-fold. One is the increased traffic on the streets and the other is the age-old problem, which will not just go away, lack of law enforcement.

"If you take any one of these accidents, or the vast majority, if you take away the speed (factor) I think the scenario of the accident is reduced dramatically.

"Each year on our roads we seem to be tolerating more. The speed is increasing, the inconsiderate behaviour of drivers is being tolerated.

"There was a time when we as Bermudians, if we saw a red and white license plate on the cycle, which would indicate that a tourist is riding it, we would exercise a greater degree of courtesy.

"Riding a moped in Bermuda is part of the Bermudian experience - and this isn't a quote from me, it's a quote from the Department of Tourism."

Asked what would happen if tourists are ultimately banned from renting cycles, he reacted: "Well if they can't rent then you're closing our business.

"It would require the closure of our business and I'm sure, without exception, every livery cycle business on the Island would close."