Spokane riders prepare for the Ride of Silence.
Tomorrow if you see a line of bicyclists riding slowly in silence wearing black armbands, you are witnessing Washington’s participation in a global event. The Ride of Silence honors those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roads and highways. Chris Phelan of Dallas founded the event in honor of his friend Larry Schwartz, struck and killed by the side mirror on a bus, to raise awareness of people on bicycles and to ask that we all watch out for each other.
At WA Bikes we work tirelessly on safety issues and funding for better infrastructure so families won’t have to suffer the loss of a mother, father, sister, brother, grandma or grandpa, aunt or uncle, friend or teacher. The Ride of Silence reminds us how much more we have to do.
Gov. Jay Inslee issued a proclamation for the Ride of Silence, noting the importance of bicycling as transportation. Several communities around Washington organize local rides; in the past rides have been held in Bainbridge Island, Bellingham, Everett, Kent/Auburn, Olympia, Seattle, Silverdale/Bremerton, Spokane and Spokane Valley, Tacoma, Vancouver, Walla Walla, Wenatchee, and Woodinville. We don’t have details on all of this year’s rides; add yours in the comments below with details. (Next year, add your event to the Ride of Silence list for Washington and put it on our statewide events calendar and we’ll make sure we get word out in advance.)
- Seattle: Gather at Gas Works Park at 6:30pm; ride departs 7pm.
- Spokane: Held its ride May 14 during Bike to Work Week
If you want to organize a Ride of Silence for your community, the site has an organizer’s checklist, sample materials such as a news release and ROS logo, and other resources. If you plan to organize one in Washington for 2015, let us know and we’ll help spread the word next year.
“How about if we all just try to follow these very simple Rules of the Road? Drive like the person ahead on the bike is your son/daughter. Ride like the cars are ambulances carrying your loved ones to the emergency room. This should cover everything, unless you are a complete sociopath.”
— Letter to VeloNews from David Desautels, Fort Bragg, California
The Ride of Silence poem is read aloud at the beginning of the ride:
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
– Mike Murgas
“I am someone’s somebody” jerseys sold by carytownbicycles.com.
(Spanish)
Marcha en Silencio…
Somos muchos esta noche, pero marchamos como un solo hombre
en honor de padres, madres, amigos o hijos que ya no tienen nombre…
Con el casco bien calado y la cabeza agachada
marchamos en silencio, prudente la mirada.
En cabeza oigo ruedas su recorrido comenzar,
pero hoy solo marchamos, nadie quiere atacar.
Disimulan nuestras lágrimas las gafas oscuras
recordando nuestros seres queridos con ternura.
La marcha de esta noche es para otros advertir
que las carreteras son y están para compartir.
Para aquellos que con nosotros ya no están:
¡que Dios les acompañe en la marcha final!.
Traducción: Claudia Tarozzi Sirola
