Global Ride of Silence

[Jiffer]

Anyone else doing a "Ride of Silence" tomorrow night? (Wednesday, 8/20)

It's a ride done in silence by cyclists around the world in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling. It also brings awareness to the presence of cyclists on the road.

Our club is doing a 10 mile ride, single file at a 10-12 pace. I don't know if this is typical with other rides.

The hardest part for me will be keeping my mouth shut for that long! :D I'm thinking about bringing duct tape.

[PscyclePath]

Central Arkansas riders will gather at the south foot of the Big Dam Bridge this evening and ride at 7:00 p.m. Not a long distance (it's maybe 4 miles or so) nor a lot of visibility, but we're riding. Quietly, but we're riding.

[ASammy1]

I'm doing it in VB. We are also doing the slow pace and I think it will be around 5-6 miles.

[markpedal]

Wouldn't miss it for the world.

Thanks to supporting bike shops, clubs, sponsors and anonymous donor, will be handing out 175 free Share the Road / Ride of Silence T-Shirts in Grand Rapids MI, 50 in Spring Lake MI, 40 in Traverse City MI and 25 in Holland MI.

markpedal

[Biciclista]

Mimitabby and Raleighdon will be there.

[badgercat]

I had planned on riding in my local one (Tucson, AZ) but an opportunity to pick up a shift at work tonight came up. I'm trying to convince my BF to still go without me, but he's not keen on going alone. I feel sort of guilty that I won't be there, but I really can't justify passing up work right now. :(

I hope the rides all have a good turnout.

[Crankin]

There are no rides close to me; I either have to go into Boston, (where I would probably get killed), or drive 20 miles to West Boylston. In the past there have been several rides to choose from in this area...

[Brandy]

I'm doing the Irvine, CA ride tonight.

[hipmama]

Riding tonight in Albany, NY
We have 3 ghost bikes on our route but sadly, we lost a 10 year old boy yesterday in a bike accident. We don't have a bike for him yet but he will be honored and thought of throughout the evening.
Our route is about 12 miles, and we go silently, about 10-12 mph. Black armbands work for support, red if you are a survivor of a car/bike accident.

[Jiffer]

Our ride is in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Our club has had a lot of injuries this year, including our club president, so I expect a good turnout. You coming Fredwina? You wearing a red arm band?!

[Fredwina]

No. I'll still be in El Monte at 6 (darn work!):(

[Jiffer]

No. I'll still be in El Monte at 6 (darn work!):(

I'll think of you while I'm working hard to keep my mouth shut!

[withm]

The Sussex County ride started conveniently about 3 miles from my work so I loaded my bike into the car this morning and went over after work. We had about 37 riders - not as many as last year but we probably did not publicize it so well either.

8 miles, police escort (who did not use the same procedures they had in previous years) so I was pretty nervous about crossing major intersections against the lights. But all was well, and for once we didn't have 20mph winds or rain or hail. There were reporters and I'll be watching the 11pm news tonight to see if I'm on TV.

[Zen]

i tried :o
I was at the start, unloaded my bike and pumped the tire.
Pushed the bike about a yard and heard a hideous noise from the fender rubbing the tire. I couldn't get it straightened out and didn't have time to take it off so...no ride for me :(:mad:

[hipmama]

Ours was a real success. We had about 125 riders, and wonderful police escorts both on bike and in cars. We hit a lot of our city and many people were out watching and showing support, and we had a couple of people join us en route from their own rides. One kid/teen/guy joined us, he was just hanging out on the street with his friends and I thought he was goofing around when he joined but he finished the ride with us respectfully. He was breaking every safety protocol, dressed all in black, no helmet, no lights, etc. When we finished and gathered in the parking lot everyone hung blinky lights on his bike and pockets and begged him to get a helmet and sent him to ride home with well wishes. It was sweet.

[Jiffer]

We had about 50 or so riders this year. Apparently they started with 13 riders the first time they did it. Last year they had about 30 and now over 50, so its growing around here. We didn't have police escorts. I wonder if our club board even inquired about that. I'll ask for next year.

[Geonz]

We had 20 -- BUT one of 'em had called the press that day (yes, some of 'em had been notified earlier) so we got some good coverage. Lead story ;)
http://www.wicd15.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wicd_vid_904.shtml

[Aint Doody]

We had around 25, I think. It was very moving. A reporter from our local paper rode with us. I'm anxious to see tonight's paper.

[markpedal]

To every member of Team Estrogen, who supports and rides in the Ride of Silence, Thank You.

2009 Grand Rapids MI Ride of Silence

With thoughts of our largest turn out, thanks to pre-Ride coverage from TV Channel 13, pre-Ride radio coverage from WGVU, Our Honorable Mayor in attendance, handing out 150+ free Ride of Silence / Share the Road T-Shirts and near perfect weather, the 2009 Grand Rapids Ride of Silence began under a very solemn cloud, due to the death of a Grand Rapids’ bicyclist, who had an accident with a city vehicle just a few short hours prior to our start.

Our Honorable Mayor George Heartwell, who spoke and rode the entire route with us, had originally planned to read a Proclamation he drafted a few weeks ago. But under the circumstances we agreed now would not be the proper time. Instead he spoke briefly about the accident, that it was still under investigation, the bicyclist’s name not yet released, and spoke instead of the need for safety and how cyclists and motorist both need be aware of each other, for all to Share the Road. “This is driven home in an awful and very sad way tonight” were but a few of his many remarks. His Honor led the prayer, asking all to keep the family of the unknown rider in our hearts and prayers this evening.

A GR Patrol Car led us on our route through downtown and out to John Ball Park. With bright orange shirts stating Share the Road on 150 riders backs, and our Ride of Silence funeral flags, we let the public know why we were riding. (including the large RofS banner on both sides of our SAG van) When we approached and began to circle the rotary at John Ball Park, giving us the opportunity to acknowledge each other, the 4 Pipers of the Grand Rapids & District Pipe Band began playing “Amazing Grace”, which meant much more on this somber evening. They were there to welcome us when we arrived back at Riverside Park. We had one rider on a penny farthing do the entire route. The final rider count I was given; 202 riders, including the dozen tots being pulled by parents in trailers.

As always, we look to next year, May 19th, 2010 at 7:00 PM and pray it will be under different circumstances.

Now to the many thanks, for without these folks, organizations and businesses, our Ride would not be be possible:

To Thomas Fish of Motion Initiatives for 100% coordinating the T-Shirt fund and doing much of the leg-work for the design.

To so many fellow members of the Rapid Wheelmen Bicycle Club, who helped out prior to and at the Ride.

To Chicago Dr/Kentwood/Holland Cycle Fitness, CycleSafe, the FreeWheeler Bike Shop, Fun Promotions, Grand Rapids Bicycle Co., Rapid Wheelmen Bicycle Club, Slingshot Bikes, Speed Merchant Bike Shop, West MI Trails & Greenways, Western MMBA, West MI Coast Riders and Village Bike Shops for donations to the T-Shirt fund or GR RofS General Fund.

To our anonymous donor, who donated a large sum to the T-Shirt Fund. She is a U.S. soldier stationed in Afghanistan, who arrived stateside the day of the Ride, and arrived in GR at the last minute to ride with us. We are very thankful of her contribution, not only to our Ride, but to our country.

To our Honorable Mayor Heartwell for joining us, and to his and the City’s commitment to make Grand Rapids a safe cycling community. As our elected official, we appreciated his thoughts and comments. As an ordained minister, in leading us in prayer that evening.

To Lt. Pat Dean of the Grand Rapids Police, who once again arranged for the GR Patrol Car, and for loaning us the portable PA system, that allowed Mayor Heartwell and myself to address our riders.

To Alger Schwinn for providing the Flag Sticks and the SAG van that evening.

To Jim DeGracia of Jade Cycles, for building a Jade Cycle specifically for our anonymous donor to borrow that evening, and again being our last rider with a FDOT regulation Share the Road sign mounted to his bike.

To Jennifer Pascua, who provided pre-Ride coverage on WZZM TV.
To Shelley Irwin, who provided pre-Ride coverage on WGVU Public Radio.
To Danielle Arndt, who provided pre-Ride coverage in The Daily News.

And finally to all the greater Grand Rapids area riders who came out to honor family or friends, and who wish to make Grand Rapids one of the LAB’s safe cycling communities.

[cylegoddess]

Going tommorow. I have to ride about 28 km to get there and then the ride, so it will be longest Ive ever rode but still, need to go ( and test out new saddle!_)

[smilingcat]

:(

This was my first experience with the ghost bikes. I was in Portland this week house hunting. Driving around like a mad woman to get acquainted with Portland area, and as I was driving on SE 39th Ave toward Halsey street, I saw a ghost bike tied to a light post. Someone had added a silver colored garland up the pole.

Seeing one in person when you don't expect it, it did affect me a lot. I just think of the tragedy, the lives lost, lives left behind...

Right or wrong on the street, we all need to realize the consequences. Nothing worse than taking a life.