Charles City Ride of Silence returns Wednesday, May 21, to raise awareness, honor fallen cyclists

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

Charles City’s 2025 bicycle Ride of Silence will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, beginning outside the Pub on the Cedar.

The local ride is part of a worldwide event held on the third Wednesday in May to remember bicyclists who have been killed or injured while riding, and to raise awareness among motorists to safely share the road.

Bob Krueger, who helps organize the Charles City ride each year, said the event continues to carry personal meaning in Floyd County, where Brian Lauterbach, Bob Phillips and Ellen Bengtson have all died after their bicycles were struck by vehicles since 2014.

The ride will cover about 8 miles at a slow pace of 10 to 12 mph so that riders of all skill levels can participate. There is no registration and anyone can join by showing up. Riders are asked to wear helmets, obey traffic rules and remain silent during the ride.

Krueger said the ride helps remind bicyclists to stay visible and safe, and motorists to be patient and aware of cyclists’ right to the road.

He offers safety tips for participants in the ride and anytime riding a bicycle – wear brightly colored clothing, use lights and reflectors, and keep bicycles in good condition – especially the brakes. He has also urged riders not to use earphones or consume alcohol while riding.

This year’s event comes not long after the Iowa Legislature passed a new law requiring vehicle drivers to use hands-free technology when operating electronic devices. Safety advocates hope the law will reduce distracted driving and improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians across the state.

One of Charles City’s fallen bicyclists, Ellen Bengtson, was killed in 2020 when her bicycle was struck by a passing pickup driver who said he was glancing down at his phone to read a notification. Bengtson’s family, from Washington state, was among those who have advocated for several years for the new state “hands-free” law.

The Ride of Silence was first held in 2003 in Dallas, Texas, to honor a cyclist who was killed when struck by the mirror of a passing school bus. Originally intended as a one-time event, the ride quickly spread to communities across the country and around the world. It is now held annually during National Bike Month.

Krueger encourages people to join the Ride of Silence to let people know that they share the road, and he said all are welcome.

• Brian Lauterbach, age 55, of Charles City, was killed on Highway 14 on July 3, 2014, after being struck from behind by a car driven by a 16-year-old.
• Bob Philips, age 69, of Nashua, was hit from behind and killed by a pickup driven by a 50-year-old Marble Rock man, south of Charles City on Shadow Avenue on June 8, 2016.
• Ellen Bengtson, age 28, of Charles City was killed Aug. 2, 2020, south of Charles City on Shadow Avenue when struck from behind by a 43-year-old Clarksville man driving a pickup.