Here are a few reports from Ride of Silence events around the region:
Kansas City
In Kansas City, the Ride of Silence rolled on despite rain.
Learn more from KSHB-TV
Here’s a photo from the event (courtesy of Mark Rainey of Groody Bros. Bicycle Restoration Project):
According to participant Bill Poindexter (carfree American), who ultimately ended up leading the ride, about 35-50 people attended the ceremony in Brookside, during which several people spoke about the purpose of the Ride of Silence, and a list of cyclists injured and killed in recent years was read. The official ride was canceled due to rain, but a number of people decided to ride anyway, and Bill led a slow-paced group ride from Brookside to the Country Club Plaza and back:
The rain fell steadily, but it felt appropriate for the nature of the ride, and there were no down pours. The ride was safe, without incident. Most thanked me after for leading the ride. I believe about 25 people rode. The reason why I spoke up and led the ride is: first the rain was mild, most of the riders were prepared for the weather, this is a memorial ride and there was no reason to cancel the ride portion. Before we rolled into the plaza, I told the riders, “If something ever happens to me, don’t use rain as an excuse not to ride for the Ride of Silence.”
Wichita
Ride of Silence Raises Awareness of Bicycle Safety in Wichita:
“I was hit by a truck from behind. He was estimated going 50 miles per hour at the time,” says Katharine Wencel who is recovering from her March 6th accident.
She can only watch as her fellow riders take part in the ‘Ride of Silence’ Wednesday night. The ride is a nationwide event meant to make drivers more aware of bicyclists.
Cyclists say things aren’t getting any easier With cell phones and other devices, drivers are more districted than ever before. “Most people are just distracted drivers in general,” says Wencel.
Before the ‘Ride of Silence’, the names of those hurt or killed on Wichita roads are read aloud. Cyclists ask that you pay attention, share the road, and remember that cyclists are people.
See also: Injured, killed bicyclists to be remembered with ride
Around the Region
- Colorado: Vail Valley riders remember fallen cyclists, Ride of Silence Report 2010 (Colorado Springs)
- Iowa: Bicyclists’ plea: Share the road (Des Moines), Wednesday’s Ride Of Silence (Le Mars), Governor Stops by Ride of Silence (Mason City)
- Nebraska: The Ride Of Silence (Lincoln)
- Oklahoma: The Ride Of Silence (Tulsa) was a victim of the Oklahoma weather. The ride was called off the ride because of the strong storms moving in, which had been producing lightning and hail and tornadoes.
