Missoula in Motion

2nd Annual Missoula Ride of Silence

Event Details

Time: May 20, 2009 from 6:45pm to 8pm
Location: Starts/Ends at Caras Park, route is about eight miles.
City/Town: Missoula
Website or Map: http://www.bikewalkmissoula...
Event Type: organized, bike, ride
Organized By: Bike/Walk Alliance for Missoula
Latest Activity: May 18

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Event Description

The Bike/Walk Alliance for Missoula (BWAM) is organizing the 2nd Annual Missoula Ride of Silence (RoS). This 7.5-mile ride is meant to celebrate bicycling in Missoula and honor those who have been hurt or killed while cycling. This is a family-friendly event.

Who:
Cyclists; road, recreation, commuter, race, triathlon. All who legally share the road

What:
The world wide Ride Of Silence™ bike rally

When:
Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 6:45 PM

Where:
Meet at Caras Park. We will ride north to Front St., east to Higgins, south to 3rd St., west to Reserve, north to Broadway, east to Front, return to Caras Park.

Why:
• to mourn those cyclists already killed by motorists
• to raise awareness (among motorists, police, and city officials) of cyclists on the road
• to have motorists know we only want to share the road we ride on
• to show that cyclists are not going away

THE RIDE OF SILENCE WILL NOT BE QUIET

On the third Wednesday of May, at 7 PM local around the world, cyclists will take to the roads in a silent protest of the carnage taking place on the streets.

Chris Phelan organized the first Ride Of Silence in Dallas in 2003 after endurance cyclists Larry Schwartz was killed by a passing bus mirror on an empty road.

The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph for no longer than an hour, and remain silent during the ride.

The ride hopes to raise cycling awareness during bike safety month to motorists, police, traffic engineers, insurance companies, and city officials. The ride is also a chance to mourn, in funeral procession style, those who have already been killed.

The ride requests black arm bands be worn, red only if you have had a bike/motor vehicle crash. Arm bands will be available at the start. Helmets are required; bright clothing and lights are highly recommended for the ride home. There are no fees charged anyone to participate.

Phelan is looking for as many cyclists as possible to join in one of many locations in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, South and Central America and the rest of the world. Last year there were over 300 locations in all 50 US states, and 18 countries including: Antarctica, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Caribbean, China, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, and Spain.

The web site is: www.rideofsilence.org