Ride of Silence to Honor Cyclists Killed or Injured in Motor Vehicle Accidents

2012 Ride of Silence via Philly Bicycle Coalition’s Flickr

This past Saturday, May 10, NBC Philadelphia reported that a 38-year-old bicyclist was killed near 2nd and Girard in Northern Liberties when he was struck by a car. In the past 11 months, five bicyclists have been killed in accidents with motor vehicle accidents in the Delaware Valley, according a Philadelphia Ride of Silence press release.

The annual Ride of Silence, held on May 21, plans to honor these cyclists and others across the country who were  injured or killed in motor vehicle-related crashes. This will be Philadelphia’s ninth year holding a “Ride of Silence”  consecutively and its 11th year since its inception. Last year, nearly 250 riders attended, and this year event organizers are hoping to attract 400 riders.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2011, 677 bicyclists were killed and another 48,000 were injured in motor-vehicle crashes nationwide. In Philadelphia, from 2004 to 2008, bicycle fatalities fluctuated between two and five, according to the Philadelphia Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan.

The Philadelphia Ride of Silence will run for eight miles (approximately one hour) in silence through Center City. The ride begins and ends at the front steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum on the Ben Franklin Parkway. A brief dedication ceremony will take place at 6:45 PM, and the ride will begin at 7:00 PM.

Other Ride of Silence events will be held this year and around the world, with 262 confirmed locations so far. Find a full list here and more information about the Philadelphia ride on Facebook.

Further Information

The Bicycle Coalition has a great guide to events happening during Bike Month in Philadelphia, including National Bike Challenge, Bike to Work Day and a Ride for Reading. View the complete event guide here.

“Philadelphia Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan,” a report by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission