Midlands Ride of Silence announces May 18 as worldwide ride date
May 5, 2016
The Midlands Ride of Silence honoring cyclists who have been hit or killed by motorists will take place on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 7 p.m. The ride will start and end at Washington Street Methodist Church in downtown Columbia.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has declared May as Bicycle Safety Month. On Worldwide Ride Day, cyclists around the world will take to the roads to raise awareness among motorists, police, traffic engineers, insurance companies, and city officials that cyclists deserve to share the road with motorists. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road, the motoring public often isn’t aware of these rights.
The ride is also a chance to mourn those who have already been killed. Over 700 cyclists are killed each year while riding. Most of these deaths occur in cities and suburbs.
The Ride of Silence is a free ride that asks cyclists to ride no faster than 12 miles per hour for no longer than an hour, and to remain silent during the ride. Cyclists should wear a red armband if they have had a bike or motor vehicle accident. Helmets are required, and bright clothing and lights are highly recommended.
For more information, visit the Midlands Ride of Silence Facebook page or contact Tim Malson at [email protected].
The SC National Safety Council is a proud supporter of the Midlands Ride of Silence. Located in Irmo, the SC National Safety Council promotes health and safety on the road, in the community and at work through training, knowledge and advocacy.
About the Worldwide Ride of Silence
The first Ride of Silence was organized by Chris Phelan in Dallas in May 2003 after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was killed by a passing bus mirror on an empty road. The goals of the Ride of Silence are to honor those who have been injured or killed, to raise awareness that we are here, and to ask that we all share the road. Last year, there were over 300 locations in all 50 states and 18 countries. For more information, visit www.rideofsilence.org.
