This year cyclists in Washington, DC joined cyclists throughout the world in the Ride of Silence. About 30 cyclists started from the Jefferson Memorial and rode past the Capitol, District Building and White House on the way to American University and past the sites where last year Alice Swanson and Ian Wolfe were killed.
It was eerie riding along without talking. Cycling is such a social activity, so, to be with so many other cyclists and to not be talking was powerful.
I think people who saw us were mostly perplexed, though some riders did think to attach signs to their bike to let people know what the ride was about, and so I think there was some awareness raised.
Trying to ride as a group, and to follow all traffic laws, meant that it was slow, and took longer than an hour to travel the 10 mile route, but it was a beautiful evening for riding and I'm not sure anyone minded.
There was definite interest in doing this again next year and the hope is to use facebook to create a committee that can (1) get more participation (2) get a police escort (3) chose the best route and (4) get more publicity. All with an eye toward making the ride better.
If you're interested in getting involved in the planning for next year's ride, join the facebook group (or send an email to dcwashcycle(at)gmail(dot)com since most of the site's readers are apparently over 35
I was surprised by the turnout in Greensboro, NC especially after the light turnout on BTW Day (I worked the downtown refueling station and we saw a grand total of 10 cyclists stop by). For RoS we had nearly 200 plus a police escort and news coverage albeit from the cable only news station. http://gsocycle.blogspot.com/2009/05/ride-of-silence-2009-post-ride-report.html
Posted by: Grendel | May 24, 2009 at 01:12 PM
Rockville MD observed the Ride of Silence with 16 riders and a police escort. Third year in a row that I've ridden in silence there. Still, the mean streets get meaner, but it is a start.
Posted by: mike | May 24, 2009 at 06:26 PM
and so I think there was "...some awareness raised."
the bike community is filled to the brim with earnest folks whose intentions are golden regarding progressive, defensible social change...
They are also clueless, and need the help of experts when it comes to social analysis, and social intervention...
Posted by: mr smith | May 25, 2009 at 01:44 PM
Well then, help the earnest yet clueless folks among us. What kind of social analysis and social intervention do we need?
Posted by: Washcycle | May 25, 2009 at 03:10 PM
I really think that hopping on the social media bandwagon would be very beneficial for RoS. It would help to engage younger riders, professionals (esp. in the npo industry), and is very viral. WABA is great, but I'm wondering if there is some sort of hub/network that connects all the subgroups. Of course, I'm new to biking in the DMV, so I could be very much behind.
I wonder if we could get the bicycle cops & ranger tour guides involved.
Posted by: Amanda J. | May 26, 2009 at 07:26 PM
I think we could get bicycle officers involved, and reaching out to Bike and Roll can't hurt. Also the bike messenger orgs, bike clubs, team, bike polo players, pedicab drivers, etc.. there are a lot of different groups out there. And next year I'd like to reach out to all of them.
Posted by: Washcycle | May 26, 2009 at 08:02 PM