|
Ride of Silence events
|
Ed Barsotti
|
May 15, 2009 14:44 PDT
|
Ride of Silence events are scheduled in these Illinois locations: Arlington
Heights, Charleston, Chicago (below), Downers Grove, Evanston, Joliet, and
Peoria. See http://rideofsilence.com/locations-domestic.php?s=IL#IL for
details.
Ed Barsotti
Executive Director
League of Illinois Bicyclists
2550 Cheshire Dr.
Aurora, IL 60504
630-978-0583
<mailto:e-@bikelib.org> e-@bikelib.org
<http://www.bikelib.org> www.bikelib.org
For Immediate Release . May 11 2009
THE RIDE OF SILENCE WILL NOT BE QUIET
Chicago Cyclists Take to the Road to Remember Fallen Riders
On Wednesday May 20 2009 at 7 PM Chicago cyclists will take to the road as
part of a global
event to remember crash victims and call for the need for safer streets for
Chicago's more
vulnerable traffic participants.
The Chicago Ride Of Silence will gather at the Eternal Flame in Daley Plaza,
Washington at
Dearborn, at 6:45 PM and depart at 7 PM. The 10-mile route is set to pass
the sites of 5 crash
victims, and end at the location of the January 2006 death of Isai Medina in
the 1100 block of
N. Western Ave . Many of the sites are marked by Ghost Bikes, which are
powerful memorials to
fallen cyclists created by painting a bicycle white and placing it at or
near the site of the cyclist's
death.
Chicago's Ghost Bike tradition began in January 2006 with placement of a
bike for 50-year-old
Isai Medina, a fixture in the Chicago cycling scene. Isai, who could be
spotted anywhere from
47th Street to Evanston on his self-assembled "chopper" style bicycle
covered with flashing red
lights, was killed by a driver traveling at high speed, shocking Chicago's
tight-knit bicycling
community. Chicago's Ghost Bikes have been placed with involvement of
friends and family of
the victim. Typically a handmade sign with a short epitaph serves to inform
passersby of the
victim's identity. The original Ghost Bike is said to have been placed in
St. Louis, but the practice
has spread to many cities worldwide.
The First Ride Of Silence was organized in Dallas in 2003 by Chris Phelan
after endurance cyclist
Larry Schwartz was killed by a passing bus mirror on an empty road. In 2009
there are over 289
locations worldwide hosting a Ride Of Silence.
The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its participants to ride no
faster than 12 mph and
remain silent during the procession. The ride hopes to raise cycling
awareness during bike
safety month to motorists, police, and city officials. Additionally, the
ride serves as a chance to
mourn those who have already been killed.
Organizers request that participants wear black arm bands to show solidarity
with victims and
their loved ones, or red arm bands to signify a personal injury from a
bike/motor vehicle
accident. All participating cyclists are asked to wear a helmet.
Contacts:
Chicago Ride of Silence:
Elizabeth Adamczyk . rideofsilen-@gmail.com . 773-370-2038
www.rideofsilence.org
Chicago Ghost Bikes:
Howard Kaplan . ghost-@bikechicago.info . 773-710-4143
www.bikechicago.info/ghostbikes
###
|
|
 |
|
