Ride of Silence

4.30.2011

 

CALLING THE RIDE OF SILENCE ARMY!



Calling all centurions, those who are calling together a local ban of cyclists to be part of a larger voice, one that hopes to collectively overwhelm our politicians and authorities, and get the attention of local, national, and global media.

We have 18 days left to make an impact on one single day; to show the sheer number of cyclists who have a legal right to ride under safe conditions; a show of force restrained through silence that will become deafening as a public outcry.

In 18 days, The Ride Of Silence, known for being free and without registration, hopes to populate as many cities, towns, villages, and communities as the world has never seen. (Today we are 191 locations. Last year we got to 321. We’re pushing for 400 this year.) This ride, organized by volunteers from top to bottom, is fueled by passion and purpose.

We are asking for all those who would be a contact person, to send in their site location now. This is important to get a listing of sites for the other cyclists to see and know where to gather, and the local media who are visiting our site now in preparation for a story. PLEASE, go to the web site, and register your site today.

If there is NOT one near you, or on your side of town, please register your own ride. Don’t wait for someone else to do it for you. This is very easy to do. Just step out! Please. For those who have been killed or injured and unable to. …Please. Please join us May 18, 2011, 7 PM.

Again, thank you for being part of this world wide event. It is appreciated. I look forward to partnering with each of you as we continue the tradition of excellence that distinguishes The Ride Of Silence, and together, we envision the path for the future.

Centurions, come! Now is the time. We have 18 days to go!

Chris Phelan, Founder
The Ride Of Silence
http://www.rideofsilence.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttNHKTRMtK4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNWj-OU5kBc
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Ride-of-Silence/33924790161?ref=ts
Wednesday, May 18, 2011, 7 PM
One day. One time. One world, world wide.
Let the silence roar.

The 2010 Ride Of Silence:
321 locations world wide
50 U.S. states
26 countries
7 continents
0 words spoken
A million powerful memories.

"I pledge allegiance, to the bicycle, in the United States, and to the righteousness, of every ride. One planet, Many bikes. Indubitable, with liberty and justice for all." - Hawaii Ride Of Silence organizer, Georgette Yaindl

“Cost-effective investments in bicycling boost our economy, help individuals and government agencies save money, and directly address key societal challenges such as obesity and road congestion. In these tough economic times, our federal government can only afford to invest in solutions that solve multiple problems. Bicycling fits the bill!” – PeopleForBikes.org

4.21.2011

 

THE RIDE OF SILENCE ARMY



Calling all soldiers of The Ride Of Silence Army. Time to suit up!

We’ve got 27 days to go before this year’s opportunity to make at least one motorist aware of sharing the road with a cyclist; a chance to save at least one life; to have the motorist not look at us cyclists, but as a relative, a friend, or a neighbor.

By calling the killed or injured cyclists is really a disservice and distances motorists from caring about them. Instead of seeing a cyclist in the way, we should see our relatives and friends on a bike, a father perhaps out for some exercise, or maybe a mom training for an upcoming bike rally. Maybe that cyclist trying to stay out of harms way in front of a long string of cars is our friend from the running group training for her first triathlon. Or it could be our neighbor on his way to work.

I believe in this event with my whole heart and being. But this event, and the thought behind it, is not about me. It is about those comrades that have fallen, those with whom we have shared the road with, to carve out that space that hugs the white line as motorist drive by unaware. This is not a popularity contest or a-cause-of-the-week. This is about life and death, those cycling friends and relatives who have lost their lives on the road due to motor vehicles.

Right now, we’re at 191 locations. At this time last year we were at 142, and ended with 321. Please summit your ride so the cyclists (relatives, friends, neighbors) in your area can make plans to attend.

If you want inspiration to host a ride in your town, or be part of the one already nearby you listed on the web site (http://www.rideofsilence.org/), look no further than this landmark, heartbreaking, and chilling article by David Darlington titled “Broken” for Bicycling Magazine, Jan/Feb 2008 issue. (It can be seen at: http://www.bicyclingmag.com/news/advocacy/broken?page=0,0)

“Every time we take to the open road, we entrust our lives to a safety net of legal protection and basic human decency. That system has failed.” This article is based on police and legal documents. It details how if a motorist kills a cyclist, his chances of being found guilty are extremely rare.

Come on out, campers. The bugle is calling you to line up.

27 Days to go!

Please join us May 18, 2011, 7 PM

Chris Phelan, Founder


(Photo of cyclists coming into downtown Dallas, 2004)