Westside Ride of Silence
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Editor) on April 23rd, 2007 at 3:55 pm
| May 16, 2007 | ||
| 7:00 pm |
- What:
- Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves. The ride has several goals: To HONOR those who have been injured or killed To RAISE AWARENESS that we are here To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD This is the inaugural year for the Westside Ride of Silence, hosted by the Washington County Bicycle Transportation Coalition. We are riding in memory of Eric Kautzky, Darrel and Sheryl McDaniel, Eric Lyager, Michael Kalan, and Mike Wilberding as well as all others who have been killed. Over 750 cyclists are killed each year while riding. Most of them occur in our cities, and suburbs. With this ride, we hope to educate motorists that cyclists have the legal right to the road and to watch out for us. The Ride of Silence is similar to a funeral procession. The ride will be slow (max 12 Miles/ 19 KM per hour). There will be no talking, only silence, to remember our fallen brothers and sisters. Black armbands are worn in memory of those who have been killed; red armbands are worn for those injured while riding. The “Westside Ride of Silence” will begin and end at the intersection of SW Hall and 5th in Beaverton. There will be 2 routes cyclists can select, depending on their style of riding. 1. The first ride will be a +/- 6 mile loop in Beaverton. White painted “Ghost Bikes” will be placed at geographically related positions around the city where 6 bicyclists have been killed in Washington County since 2005. 2. The second ride is around 35 miles which starts in Beaverton and ends near Sherwood. This mapped ride will have ghost bikes in the actual locations where the cyclists were struck.
- Where:
- SW 5th & Hall in Beaverton
- Contact:
- For details and more information contact Hal Ballard, Westside Ride of Silence coordinator. info@washcobtc.org or call 503.516.6733
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May 17th, 2007 09:17
Thanks to those who organized this and a special thanks to Hal Ballard who got those 'ghost bikes' around the city. It was a quiet and somber event. I was pleased to see so many bicyclist slowly appear on the corner of Hall and 5th. All types of riders showed up. Racers, commuters, casual riders. Sombering and a great memorial for those killed or injured while riding a bicycle.
The community needed to experience the cycling community in a more somber modality and a good wake up call for those drivers how do not pay attention to their surroundings when in the car.
Thank you again, Hal Ballard, for putting so much thought into this event and taking up the responsibility!
May 18th, 2007 04:30
Hal Ballard did a great job leading our modest-sized Westside Ride of Silence. My guess is we had no more than 50 riders for this first ride in our area. I rode the ROS on the Eastside last year and the overall spirit of the ride was the same on this side of the river.
We were accompanied by two Beaverton Policemen riding bicycles...quite different from the full escort given on the Eastside. Two other bicycle police came by - not sure if they tagged on to the end of the ride or not. We were told that the police were there as riders, but that tickets would be given for any unlawful riding.
The ride was well-done and well-received; some drivers waved us through stop signs to keep our group together.
Family members of killed cyclists were at the start and spoke their thanks to the cycling community for being there - it was quite a moving start to the ride.