VERMONT — All area cyclists are invited to participate in a “Ride of Silence” on Wednesday evening, May 15, to honor bicyclists who have been injured or killed in crashes involving motor vehicles. The Ride of Silence is an annual event that happens on the same day across the U.S. and around the world.
Since 2007, the ride has been organized in Montpelier by the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition (VBPC) to draw attention to the need to improve the safety of Vermont’s roadways for all users. The ride will take place in over a dozen Vermont communities this year, including in Bristol and Middlebury.
Bicyclists at the May 15 event will ride approximately 12 miles in silence, single file, at a respectful pace while wearing their helmets. VBPC Executive Director Nancy Schulz, is enthusiastic about the growth of the ride and says, “Having so many towns participating is an indication of the value that citizens place on safety. Vermonters deserve to have roads that are safe for bicyclists and pedestrians.”
In Montpelier, the Ride of Silence bicyclists will be wearing black and red armbands, each of which has been labeled with the name of a crash victim. At the halfway point in the ride, the names will be read aloud to emphasize the high price of unsafe infrastructure and unsafe behavior.
To participate locally in the Ride of Silence on May 15, contact Bob Donnis in Bristol at [email protected] or Molly Costanza-Robinson in Middlebury at [email protected].
There is no charge to participate in this event.