THE RIDE OF SILENCE WILL NOT BE QUIET
Tomorrow, May 21, 2014 at 7:00 PM, the 11th Annual Ride of Silence will begin in North America and will roll across the globe.
Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways.
Here in the City of Radford, we’ll be hosting our 7th Annual Ride of Silence, an effort that was started when friend and fellow cycling advocate and enthusiast, Fess Green, was hit by a motorist and died from his injuries. A Ghost Bike is placed at the site of the tragic accident each year a week or so before the ride.
It’s a solemn, thought provoking event, and an incredibly powerful ride.
In the next day or so, I’ll be posting a summary of this year’s ride. Be sure to look for a Ride of Silence event in your area and check out this link to last year’s post for more information.
Life on the Bike and other Fab Things 
This sounds like an amazing ride. I may jump on a bike tomorrow at 7 in honor.
There may even be one in the City … but I love that you would do this solo. ❤
My eyes are filled – it is a powerful read! I don’t think we have it here, which is a shame as there are many dreadful incidents that occur with cyclists on our roads. . Ride in peace Laurie xoxo
Thank you, Pauline. It hits even closer to home this year since the woman who hit me in my wreck, though I was on a motorcycle, said what most say when they hit a cyclist: “Officer, I just didn’t see her”.
Reblogged this on The Big Bike Boom.
Thanks for the re-blog, Joe! Definitely want to get the word out anyway we can!! We found out yesterday that one of the original Ride of Silence organizers was killed while cycling in CT.
Oh how sad to hear about the organizer Laurie. I ride my bike daily (weather permitting) and I did notice people in cars are so much in a damn rush all the time. All it takes is a little bit of courtesy to avoid tragedies. My please to reblog your post Laurie 🙂
What an amazing way to pay tribute to those who have been killed while cycling. I hadn’t heard of “Ride of Silence” prior to reading your post. The Ghost Bike gives me the chills. Thanks for sharing!
It IS a chilling site, isn’t it? Hoping for over 100 cyclists tonight …
I hadn’t heard of this prior to your post either, and I appreciate the symbolism of that ghost bike. There are a few permanent bike shrines around Portland, two of them are white, and I never made the connection. I think this one is more compelling: all white – even the tires – and no other ornament.
I apologize for breaking the solemnity with levity, but when your blog popped up in my email, I could see only the title and the first line “The Ride of Silence Will Not Be Quiet” without scrolling down. And I assumed the ride would be on a different kind of bike. I laughed to myself and thought, “a ride of silence with Harleys?! I should think they won’t be quiet!”
The couple who put our Ghost Bike together did a great job, didn’t they? Very powerful symbol.
And no worries on the bike mix up 🙂 We definitely could not have a Ride of Silence with motorcycles 🙂
I used to see a ghost bike chained to a pole at an intersection not far from my workplace and never stopped to take a closer look at it…..now I know. Thank you for the info.
You are so welcome … the Ghost BIke is a powerful symbol!
Yes, it is…very compelling.
A 3 foot clearance rule was enacted in Houston recently. Rick Perry vetoed a similar law for the state because farmers want to race around two lane roads in their dualies pulling heavy trailers. Heaven forbid they would have to be concerned about a mere bicycle. I still ride, but not as much as I used to.
Ugh! Rick Perry … enough said.
Can’t blame you, Ron!
Rick can’t remember his own lines.
Yep!!!
There have been two cyclists killed on roads near here in the past 3 weeks. Laws have been changed but I think it comes down to respect by both cyclists and other vehicle users.
Each year in our town, the local bicycle users group run a charity run named in honour of one of their members who was killed a few years ago. (Tragically, he was killed and his wife severely injured when the car they were travelling in was hit by an oncoming car filled with teenage joyriders).
I think the Ghost bike memorial is powerful.
A similar story and just as tragic … one of the original organizers of the International Ride of Silence was killed in a bike / car wreck.
The Ghost Bike is indeed a powerful symbol … very sad
Wow is it a whole year already? I remember this ride last year, it had a powerful effect on me. I love that you guys are honoring both your friend, (and all others who passed the same way) each year.
Good on you all!
Australia has just passed new laws to keep cyclist safer on the roads. It has been controversial to say the least, everyone seems to think they own the road.
I for one have always been respectful, I know how easy it is to make that split second wrong decision and I don’t ever want to spend the rest of my life regretting one!
You said it! I try so hard to be aware of others on the road as I don’t want to cause and regret an accident. I wish the person who hit me last fall had had that same worry!!!
I have seen so many stupid things happen around me on the road! People are just in such a hurry these days, and so inconsiderate..
They pull out in front of you, and pass you so fast you don’t even see them coming!
We call them “Temporary Australians” round here.
moving post, thank you, lma
It is such a powerful ride … completely silent and all you hear is wheels spinning, gears changing, and toe clips in and out of the pedals.
We have a ghost bike just up the road from us Laurie where a cyclist was hit several years ago. We have no shoulders on the roads here and it is so dangerous. I hung my bike up a couple of years ago and have decided I’m waiting until my kids are grown to get back into it. Cars just don’t pay attention – always in too much of a rush! Great way to spread the word! Thanks!
I can’t blame you for that decision, Robyn. Too many stories of too many tragedies.
On a positive note, even in our little city, we built a greenway along the river. 3.5 miles of protected bikeway … hopefully we’ll find the money to extend it. Even still, everyone needs to learn to share the road!
Congratulations for participating with great community spirit LB. Sadly, the local news reporting this morning reports that a 50 year old woman cyclist was hit and killed by a garbage truck yesterday morning, not far from our condo. They’ve also already installed a ghost bike at the spot she passed away. I hope it evokes some caution, because a lot of Edmonton drivers are all about road rage. Driving too close and like the house is on fire. By reading some of your messages, it’s a big problem everywhere. I just don’t know how they’ll change these people.
Oh gosh, how sad and timely that newscast was! Perhaps the placement of more and more Ghost BIkes will help awareness that it’s pedestrians, runners, cyclists, and bikers on the road … not just cars.