Cleveland, OH - On Wednesday May 19th, 2021, at 6:30pm, Cleveland area cyclists will gather to ride in silence to honor those who have been injured or killed bicycling on our public roadways.
The Ride of Silence, a global event that takes place yearly, will begin in North America and continue to roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a slow, silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. 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.
Traditionally, the Ride of Silence is a group ride – led by the Cleveland Police Bike Division – on a predetermined route through the city. However, there are still too many restrictions and limitations to do this safely, and silently. We will not be riding as a group this year. This year, we ask cyclists to ride silently, either solo or with your current riding group to Public Square. Once you reach Public Square, join others from the region who have been impacted by roadway violence and hear their stories.
“Far too many people have lost a loved-one or friend in tragic auto/bike crash,” said Jacob VanSickle, Executive Director of Bike Cleveland. “In 2020 (according to the Ohio Department of Public Safety) there was 1,077 reported crashes between automobiles and bicycles in the state of Ohio. 55 of those crashes resulted in fatalities, which is an 88% increase over 2019. Each of these injuries and fatalities represent someone’s son, daughter, mother, father, friend or co-worker.”
“All of these crashes are preventable, and no one should be killed on our roadways simply for riding a bike.” said Jacob VanSickle, Executive Director of Bike Cleveland. “As a region we need to make transportation investments that make our streets safe for all road users, motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike. We do not accept that fatalities merely happen. We have the power to prevent such tragedies from occurring; civic leaders and the community just need to make it a priority.”
“The Ride of Silence is planned to raise awareness of the preventable injuries and fatalities on our region's roads, and encourage decision makers to prioritize safety over budget concerns and commute times.” VanSickle concluded.
Participants joining at Public Square are asked to wear white.
Photo by ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images
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