The Ride of Silence, 2006

[markpedal]

Hello everyone,
I am the Michigan Director for the Ride of Silence, I organized Grand Rapids MI Ride in 2005, and will do so again for 2006. Chris Phelan, the Ride's founder, has asked me to help promote the 2006 Ride (which I have been doing for sometime now).

I encourage every cyclist, woman and man, to consider riding in a Ride of Silence, in 2006, not only to honor and remember those that can no longer ride with us, but also because of the importance of the Ride and what it's trying to accomplish on an international level: To motorists; We are there, please becareful, Share the Road with us, we have the same rights and follow the same rules as you. (Brisbane in Queensland Australia just came on board).

I'm proud to say that in Michigan we now have 18 confirmed locations for 2006 (up from 5 last year, another location joined this afternoon) and I'm hopeful this will reach 25. We are leading the nation.

If there is no Ride currently listed in your area, contact your local bike club or bike shop and see if they would be willing to host one. Or consider getting together with your cycling friends and start organizing a local Ride. I have an outline that anyone can use, that I emailed to all the new MI organizers to help them start organizing their Rides, based on my experience last year, and feedback from other sites across the country and the globe. It was endorsed by the League of Michigan Bicyclists Executive Director.

Additionally, the League of American Bicyclists Executive Director Andy Clarke, in an email to all affiliated LAB clubs, asked all clubs to join and support the Ride of Silence in 2006. And to show the LAB's support, he and LAB V.P. Preston Tyree will travel to Texas in May, to attend the Dallas Ride.

As CorsairMac noted in a previous post, this is an amazing and very moving Ride, with dozens, to hundreds to thousands of cyclists riding as one, in Silence, is a powerful experience.

Below is part of what I submitted to Chris and the Dallas board after last year's GR Ride, and to new MI organizers this year:

One of last year's most powerful images for me was of two longtime Rapid Wheelmen members who where on their tandem. Abe, the captain, had a picture of a friend on his back, who had been killed by a motorist a number of years earlier. Shortly before we arrived back at our start location, Rosalie in the stocker's seat, with a look of sadness, joy and acceptance, placed her hand on her friend's photo and looked up towards the Heavens......and stayed that way for what seem an eternity. It's an image I'll not forget and one that told me what Chris set out to accomplish was so very worth the effort.

Thank you for your time, and again, please consider holding or attending a Ride of Silence in your area. If anyone would like additional information about the Ride, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Mark Hagar
Rapid Wheelmen Bike Club, Membership Chair
membership@rapidwheelmen.com
markpedal1@highstream.net
Ride of Silence, Michigan Director
Ride of Silence, Grand Rapids 2006 Coordinator
http://www.rideofsilence.org

[markpedal]

Penned by a Canadian Cyclist

The Ride of Silence.......

Tonight we number many but ride as one
In honor of those not with us, friends, mothers, fathers, sisters, sons
With helmets on tight and heads down low, we ride in silence, cautious and slow
The wheels start spinning in the lead pack
But tonight we ride and no one attacks
The dark sunglasses cover our tears
Remembering those we held so dear
Tonight’s ride is to make others aware the road is there for all to share
To those not with us or by our side, may God be your partner on your final ride

--------------------------------------Mugai

[bcipam]

I participated in our local Ride of Silence last year. A sobering event. The organizers asked anyone who had been hit by a car in the past while cycling to wear a black or red armband. It was amazing how many people where wearing the bands. Cycling on the road can be dangerous.

[Bike Goddess]

I hope all of us here will participate in some form or another in this very important ride. Mark has posters we can duplicate if anyone wants one. (pm me and I'll give you his email address) I'm figuring that I can put some in local shops in my area to advertise the ride and get the word out. I am hoping we will have all ages participate with us.

I like Bicipam's idea of the armbands as well. Great statement.

He is also on the Bike Journal for those of you who are part of that group.

The ride date is: Wednesday May 17th

[bikerchick68]

Thanks again for the link Mark... I tried last year but the coordinator here never responded... BUT I emailed yesterday and am all set to participate this year!

I had an employee who was bicycling home in 1997. He was hit and killed by a drunk driver... I testified at both trials (criminal and civil) and this ride will be in Antolin Lopez honor.

[CyclingChick]

Thanks for the info...will definitely participate in the Dallas ride.

[withm]

I did this ride last year. It was very eerie to see the long line of 50-60 bikes traveling slowly, in almost single file, especially with the lights on as it got to be dusk. There will be one again in my area this year, and my bike club is working hard to get even more participants. There have been several serious or fatal bike/car accidents on that stretch of road where the Ride is conducted and as a result we are heavily involved in bicyclist advocacy. If you go to the website mentioned in the first post it will tell you where there are rides scheduled so far, and how to set one up for your locale.

Definitely worthwhile.
Martha

[markpedal]

Thanks for supporting the Ride Martha.

Bikegoddess, did you get my email from work, with the MS Word files, the 'mini' posters? If not reply here and we'll figure some way of getting them to you. I started delivering them at Grand Rapids MI area bike shops today. If anyone would like a copy that you can edit for your area, please contact me.

markpedal