There are some cities that unfortunately have PDs like that, and others that actually do treat these as a serious accidents.
As the Michigan Representative of the Ride Of Silence, may I suggest holding one in 2006 in Iowa City, and throughout Iowa, on May 17th, and join cyclists worldwide in honoring friends that have been injured of killed by motorist, and let them know they MUST Share the Road with us.
Last year from records I received from the Ride of Silence board in Dallas, no rides were held in Iowa. We had only 5 in Michigan. There are currently 13 scheduled in Mich. for 2006 and I'm hoping that bike clubs, coalitions and organizations around the country will consider holding a Ride this year.
Below is detailed info about the Ride of Silence:
The Ride of Silence
The 2006 Ride of Silence will roll across Michigan, the U.S. and the world on May 17th, 2006 at 7:00 PM (a few sites will adjust their time). This is NOT a Critical Mass Ride. There are no shirts or items for sale, there’s no fee or registration. Each ride is approximately 12 miles long, is ridden at a 12 MPH pace, and is Silent, though its message won’t be. It’s not just a club ride. It’s a ride for Moms, Dads, brothers & sisters, family & friends, beginning cyclists to the racers, anyone who wishes to honor a cyclist that has been killed or injured by a motorist while out riding and to let motorist know they MUST Share the Road with us. Participants are asked to wear a black arm band to honor a cyclist who’s been killed, and/or a red arm band to honor a cyclist that has been injured.
As of Jan 20th, we have 13 confirmed sites in Mich, the most of any state in the U.S. at this point. Locations and supporting clubs are (**new for 2006);
**Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society, Washtenaw Bicycling & Walking Coalition, Start location to be determined
**Battle Creek, Battle Creek Bicycle Club, from parking lot behind Team Active
**Boyne City, North Country Bicycle Club, start location to be determined
**Flint, Genessee Wanderers Bicycle Club, start location to be determined
Grand Rapids, Rapid Wheelmen, Macatawa Cycling Club of Holland, West Mich. Coast Riders of Muskegon, Jade Cycles of Zeeland, from Riverside Park
**Hamburg-Pinckney, Against the Wind Cycling Club, start location to be determined
**Houghton, Copper County Cycling Club, start location to be determined
**Jackson, Cascades Cycling Club, start location to be determined
**Lansing, Tri-County Bicycle Assoc., from Haslett Middle School
Livonia-Westland-Dearborn, Multiple Detroit area clubs, from Nankin Mills Pavilion, Hines Drive
Midland-Bay City-Saginaw, Tri-City Cyclists, Bay City this year, start location to be determined
**Mount Pleasant, CMU Cycling Club, start location to be determined
Traverse City, Cherry Capitol Cycling Club, from Horizon Book Store
TENTATIVE:
Grattan, at Wed. night race series, all Racers riding one slow lap in Silence (as they did last year)
There are a few clubs considering hosting a Ride in their area, and I am still in the process of contacting other locations around the state. For those unfamiliar with the Ride of Silence, here is a brief history;
* In 2003 endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz is struck and killed by the mirror of a passing bus while cycling outside of Dallas. His friend Coach Chris Phelan organizes a memorial ride in Dallas on May 18th, titled the Ride of Silence, a slow paced silent 12 mile ride to honor his friend. In just a 10 day period of pulling the Ride together, over 1,000 cyclists attend. Chris thinks he has closure.
* Word spreads about the Ride. A grassroots movement takes place…
* In 2004, Rides of Silences take place on May 18th in 50 cities in the U.S. and Canada. The Dallas Ride has 2,500 cyclists. It’s written up in Bicycling magazine.
* Chris actively promotes the Ride. A board of directors is in place. A copyright is applied for the Ride of Silence name.
* In 2005, Rides of Silences take place in over 100 U.S cities, 120+ worldwide, in 9 countries, across 4 continents. The Dallas ride again has 2,500 cyclists. The Dallas City Council issues a proclamation that May 18th 2005 is The Ride of Silence Day. The Dallas board appoints a representative in each of the states / areas. Grand Rapids holds its 1st Ride of Silence.
* Rides of Silences will take place on May 17th 2006, worldwide, at 7:00 PM.
All 13 sites were submitted to the League of American Bicyclist calendar.
In Grand Rapids for 2006, sadly we have another area cyclist (not a Rapid Wheelmen member) who we will be honoring, Anna Sobie, who was struck and killed this past Sept. in Walker while riding with her husband and friends. Her husband and family were very grateful that I asked them to attend, and will be there to ride with us in the 2006 Grand Rapids Ride of Silence, to honor Anna. The Rapid Wheelmen have donated a set of Share the Road signs to the City of Walker, that Anna’s husband approved, that are stenciled “In Memory of Anna”, and will be placed on both sides of the road this spring, near where Anna was struck. If anyone would like additional information about the Ride of Silence, or starting a Share the Road program in your area, please feel free to email me.
Together, we can make a difference.
Sincerely
Mark Hagar
Membership Chair, Rapid Wheelmen Bike Club of Grand Rapids
membership@rapidwheelmen.com
markpedal1@highstream.net
Grand Rapids Ride of Silence Coordinator
Michigan Representative for the Ride of Silence
www.rideofsilence.orgIf any one would like additional information about the Ride of Silence, please contact me.