Annual bicycle Ride of Silence for safety awareness will be Wednesday

To The Press

The annual Ride of Silence, to draw attention to bicycle safety and remember those who have been injured or killed while riding bicycles, will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 15.

The event — a slow, quiet ride through the streets of Charles City — will begin and end at the Charles City High School parking lot. There is no registration and no fees. Anyone interested in participating is asked to gather at the starting site.

The local ride is part of an annual national event that began in Dallas in 2003 to honor a local cyclist who was killed when he was struck by the mirror of a school bus that was passing him.

Today the ride encompasses thousands of riders in hundreds of cities around the globe and is held the third Wednesday of May, during National Bike Month.

Bob Krueger, an avid bicyclist who helps organize the local ride each year, said the event is important to help remind bike riders about riding safely and doing whatever they can to be visible to motorists.

He also said it is important to raise awareness among motorists to look out for bicyclists and safely share the roads with them.

Cyclists are asked to go no faster than 10-12 mph so everyone can keep up. They are also asked to wear helmets, follow traffic rules and remain silent during the ride.

“Please join us again this year to let all know that we share the road. Invite family, friends and coworkers,” Krueger said.