4.15.2013
Let's Get Rolling
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| At the site of the orginal 2003 Ride Of Silence, White Rock Lake, Dallas, TX. Founder Chris Phelan wearing the Ride Of Silence shirt. |
April 14, 2013
Dear organizers, directors, volunteers, and participants:
Our ride is only 31 days away. While some of us are putting
the final details for our ride, others are just beginning their preparations.
That’s one of the beauties of The Ride Of Silence. It can be grand and formal,
or it can be (more times than not), a few buddies getting together to remember
a friend or loved one. It can fit the personality of the director and match
that region of the country. But the point is we all have the same thing in mind
and are united on this day, at this time: May 15, 7 PM.
On one night in cities around the world, cyclists will
gather to ride in silence to raise awareness of cyclists' right to ride on the
road and to honor the fallen cyclists no longer with us, a rally that advocates
for the living friends and family of victims, as well as a celebration of those
who incorporate the bicycle into their lifestyle. We ride slowly and silently
in hope to end the tragedy on our roads.
We rally people from the slumber behind their wheel to be
aware of cyclists using the road, legally. We want to remind motorists of their
legal obligation to share the road.
We’ve grown this ride from our city, our state, our country,
and the world from late nights on the commuter, going door-to-door, inspiring
and meeting with anyone that would meet with us to discuss how cyclists are
being massacred daily on our roadways, many times without justice being
followed up on the motorists. Cyclists are seemingly an invisible population to
city planners, authorities, courts, city leaders, insurance companies, and
motorists. Our bike ride is trying to bring that to light by getting as many
people as possible on a bike on a single day (always the 3rd
Wednesday in May), at the same time (7pm), world-wide.
We have done all this, uniting the world for one cause, as
it has never been done before, year after year, with only a slim volunteer
staff, and without a budget; a Herculean task that has never been done
previously.
The Ride Of Silence, first and foremost, memorializes those
lost doing what they loved. It remembers fathers, mothers, daughters, sons,
friends, co-workers, workout partners, and neighbors who otherwise wouldn't be
remembered beyond their immediate family.
It has brought to light the number of cyclists killed
mercilessly everywhere. Prior to this ride, many cyclists thought the problem
was only local. But this ride made all people realize the problem of cyclists
being killed was universal.
The RofS has united, bonded, inspired, and organized
cyclists locally and globally to act in a kind and selfless way, meeting in
peaceful assembly, without reward, monetary or otherwise, leaving a legacy for
others to follow and possibly change the world little by little.
With over 320 ride locations on all 7 continents, this
ride's impact is undeniable. It has been reported in every medium to millions
of people world-wide, to regular people who use a bicycle as a form of
recreation, exploration, commuting or travel, and commerce.
The Ride Of Silence remembers the bicycle, not just as a
child’s toy or pastime, but as one of the cornerstones of transportation and
business development, as it still is today. This event remembers it is the
bicycle that inspires people to get to know their neighborhoods and neighbors,
and thereby form a safer world, as well as being a part of the solution against
the obesity epidemic.
The Ride Of Silence has made an large impact that will be
remembered individually, as well as throughout the communities of our towns and
cities, states, country, and world.
Who can ride and has ridden in this event? Race, road, MTB,
BMX, Cross, DH, Trike, DF, ‘Bent, fixies, cruisers, trikes, elite, age
groupers, commuters, critical mass, cycle chic, lycra, denim, tweed,
recreational, casual, young, old, fast, slow – it doesn’t matter. Whether you know
it or not, you are part of a large family, and this is your call to the family
reunion.
Please join us May 15, 7PM!
New this year is our store to purchase a Ride Of Silence
item. There are t-shirts, bike shirts, socks, a framed poem with accompanying photo,
magnet, or just a sticker. Go to: http://www.rideofsilence.org/merchandise.php.
Attached is a photo of me, Chris Phelan, wearing the new shirt at White Rock
Lake (where the original RofS took place).
We’re at the point where we are asking ALL organizers and
directors to list their ride with us on the RofS web site.
If you’ve done this before, you can verify how easy it is.
If this is your first time, let us calm your fears. It’s a very simple process.
This is the address: http://rideofsilence.org/addlocation.php
and below is a COPY of the form to fill out. Name, email, city, state, country,
distance, and notes about your ride.
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First Name *
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Last Name *
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Email *
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City *
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State/Prov
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Country *
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Distance
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Notes
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Last we ask that you agree:
1. Participants will ride no faster
than 12 mph.
2. The ride will be conducted in
silence.
3. We recommend the distance of the
ride be between 8-12 miles.
4. We recommend you contact your
local traffic authorities/ police for:
A. an escort
B. a parade permit
C. familiarity with
local ordinances
5. We recommend insurance to
conduct the ride and using our ride waiver:
6. Riders should wear helmets (this
is strongly recommending for limiting your liability in the event of an
accident during your event).
7. There is no charge to attend and
participate in the ride.
8. No merchandise using the name or
image of The Ride Of Silence may be sold (cups, jerseys, stickers, etc.)
without prior approval of RoS.
9. After your ride, follow up with
us and let us know how it went. Please include an approximate number of
riders, distance, conditions, links to photos, videos and news articles using
this easy to use form: http://www.rideofsilence.org/reports/.
That’s it. That’s everything.
Please note NUMBER 9, asking to let us know how many people
attended your ride, whether it was 1 or 1,000. After that, add as much as you’d
like.
March 4-7, our web master, TIM POTTER, board member,
ELIZABETH ADAMCZYK, and myself traveled to Washington DC for the National Bike
Summit and talk to Congress about bike safety and The Ride Of Silence. It’s
very motivating to be with like-minded people, cyclists who want to see the
carnage on our roads cease. We each attended several workshops, separately to
glean as much as possible. It’s also an opportunity to meet and thank RofS
organizers from around the country. We encourage you to go if you are able. Plan
to do some site seeing from a bike saddle if you go.
This is a great year for The Ride Of Silence because it is
the 10th anniversary since the ride started: 2003-2013. An amazing
feat when you consider it is run by volunteers working without a budget and
takes place on the same day at the same time around the globe. Very unique! And
we have YOU to thank for keeping the flame alive. Thank you!
Yup, it’s true. On May 21, 2003, the first Ride Of Silence
took place. A ride such as this had never happened before. A silent ride where
no one talks? And goes slow? Who would show up? A thousand cyclists, that’s
who. So many, in fact, both Dallas police and local TV stations were called to
the scene (since there’s nothing scarier than a bunch of cyclists gathered
wearing lycra).
Since then, this free event has grown. It’s grown across the
state, across the country, across both oceans, and across the world. It has
done what other corporate giants such as Nike, Avon, and beer companies
couldn’t do. Even the Komen Run hasn’t achieved what we have done. Last year,
The Ride Of Silence took place in 321 locations world-wide, all 50 U.S. states,
26 countries, and on all seven continents. And not a word was spoken, though a
million powerful memories were made and recalled.
If you have joined us in the past to remember those cyclists
that have gone before us, thank you for being part of this world-wide event. It
is appreciated. Congratulations on inspiring so many people, and getting the
message out to others who were probably hearing this for the first time.
Thank you for your passion. I look forward to partnering
with each of you as we continue the tradition of excellence that distinguishes
The Ride Of Silence, and as together, we envision the path for the future. You
are part of a wave of growth for The Ride Of Silence, as we strive to embrace
the world, realizing the same bicyclists’ rights problems extends far beyond
our own streets. If we can band the cyclists of the world together, we hope
that we can affect change in our immediate neighborhoods. With each person’s
help, one person at a time, we can make a change. It helps us realize we ARE
making an impact, we do matter, and people will see it.
This is an important date for your community. Cherish it.
Through its people, your town has taken a giant step in the right direction
toward cyclist safety. As you probably do, we see this as a very significant
event, if only because it is held world-wide on the same day, at the same time.
But more so, because it remembers those lost doing what is a legal right. We
hear from cyclists from around the world that it's the most powerfully moving
ride that they do every year. We are a simultaneous collection of quiet
statements in support of cyclists' right to safe travel. The blood of cyclists
are the seeds of this movement. We shouldn’t have to fight and struggle for
what is legally ours to begin with.
Thank you for being part of this world-wide event. It is
appreciated. Thank you for your passion. Our purpose is noble, our cause is
just, and the Ride of Silence is an event worth being involved in. Through the
web site, be sure to let us know how it goes, especially how many people
attend. (Send reports to: http://www.rideofsilence.org/reports/)
We all ride. Now we can ride as one. One day. One time. One
world, world-wide. Let the silence roar. Please join us May 15, 2013, 7 PM, for
the boldest bike ride in history.
31 Days to go!
Chris Phelan, Founder
The Ride Of Silence
Wednesday, May 15, 2013, 7 PM
The 2012 Ride Of Silence
319 locations world wide
50 U.S. states
20 Countries
6 continents
0 words spoken
A million powerful memories.
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