CALLING THE RIDE OF SILENCE ARMY!

Calling all centurions, those who are calling together a local ban of cyclists to be part of a larger voice, one that hopes to collectively overwhelm our politicians and authorities, and get the attention of local, national, and global media.

We have 18 days left to make an impact on one single day; to show the sheer number of cyclists who have a legal right to ride under safe conditions; a show of force restrained through silence that will become deafening as a public outcry.

In 18 days, The Ride Of Silence, known for being free and without registration, hopes to populate as many cities, towns, villages, and communities as the world has never seen. (Today we are 191 locations. Last year we got to 321. We’re pushing for 400 this year.) This ride, organized by volunteers from top to bottom, is fueled by passion and purpose.

We are asking for all those who would be a contact person, to send in their site location now. This is important to get a listing of sites for the other cyclists to see and know where to gather, and the local media who are visiting our site now in preparation for a story. PLEASE, go to the web site, and register your site today.

If there is NOT one near you, or on your side of town, please register your own ride. Don’t wait for someone else to do it for you. This is very easy to do. Just step out! Please. For those who have been killed or injured and unable to. …Please. Please join us May 18, 2011, 7 PM.

Again, thank you for being part of this world wide event. It is appreciated. I look forward to partnering with each of you as we continue the tradition of excellence that distinguishes The Ride Of Silence, and together, we envision the path for the future.

Centurions, come! Now is the time. We have 18 days to go!

Chris Phelan, Founder
The Ride Of Silence
http://www.rideofsilence.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttNHKTRMtK4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNWj-OU5kBc
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Ride-of-Silence/33924790161?ref=ts
Wednesday, May 18, 2011, 7 PM
One day. One time. One world, world wide.
Let the silence roar.

The 2010 Ride Of Silence:
321 locations world wide
50 U.S. states
26 countries
7 continents
0 words spoken
A million powerful memories.

"I pledge allegiance, to the bicycle, in the United States, and to the righteousness, of every ride. One planet, Many bikes. Indubitable, with liberty and justice for all." - Hawaii Ride Of Silence organizer, Georgette Yaindl

“Cost-effective investments in bicycling boost our economy, help individuals and government agencies save money, and directly address key societal challenges such as obesity and road congestion. In these tough economic times, our federal government can only afford to invest in solutions that solve multiple problems. Bicycling fits the bill!” – PeopleForBikes.org

THE RIDE OF SILENCE ARMY

Calling all soldiers of The Ride Of Silence Army. Time to suit up!

We’ve got 27 days to go before this year’s opportunity to make at least one motorist aware of sharing the road with a cyclist; a chance to save at least one life; to have the motorist not look at us cyclists, but as a relative, a friend, or a neighbor.

By calling the killed or injured cyclists is really a disservice and distances motorists from caring about them. Instead of seeing a cyclist in the way, we should see our relatives and friends on a bike, a father perhaps out for some exercise, or maybe a mom training for an upcoming bike rally. Maybe that cyclist trying to stay out of harms way in front of a long string of cars is our friend from the running group training for her first triathlon. Or it could be our neighbor on his way to work.

I believe in this event with my whole heart and being. But this event, and the thought behind it, is not about me. It is about those comrades that have fallen, those with whom we have shared the road with, to carve out that space that hugs the white line as motorist drive by unaware. This is not a popularity contest or a-cause-of-the-week. This is about life and death, those cycling friends and relatives who have lost their lives on the road due to motor vehicles.

Right now, we’re at 191 locations. At this time last year we were at 142, and ended with 321. Please summit your ride so the cyclists (relatives, friends, neighbors) in your area can make plans to attend.

If you want inspiration to host a ride in your town, or be part of the one already nearby you listed on the web site (http://www.rideofsilence.org/), look no further than this landmark, heartbreaking, and chilling article by David Darlington titled “Broken” for Bicycling Magazine, Jan/Feb 2008 issue. (It can be seen at: http://www.bicyclingmag.com/news/advocacy/broken?page=0,0)

“Every time we take to the open road, we entrust our lives to a safety net of legal protection and basic human decency. That system has failed.” This article is based on police and legal documents. It details how if a motorist kills a cyclist, his chances of being found guilty are extremely rare.

Come on out, campers. The bugle is calling you to line up.

27 Days to go!

Please join us May 18, 2011, 7 PM

Chris Phelan, Founder

(Photo of cyclists coming into downtown Dallas, 2004)

Number of RofS Locations Growing

That's right! We're growing!

According to our web master, Tim Potter, we're ahead of last year's pace for locations. Yaaaaaaaaaay!

He wrote on Monday, Mar 28, "As of today we're at 150 locations. A year ago today, 88 locations."

J Steve from Seattle piggy-backed on that with this: "We're 70% ahead of same time last year. Previous calculation had us @ 56% ahead of same time last year. This looks like a notable curve folks. At this rate (total 300+ last year...) having 450 locations (a very conservative 50% growth) is likely, and breaking 600 is possible. 'nuff said.

7 weeks to go!

(Photo of bike lane in Baltimore.)

New Stickers

March 24, 2011

Check it out!

We've got Ride Of Silence stickers to put on your bike, helmet, car, computer, guitar,...where ever!

You can see what it looks like to the left. These are small (5 cm), so they'll fit any where, tastefully.

We're doing this in bulk. For 2,000 stickers, it's $160, plus shipping. Pass them out to your club or at the ride, on May 18.

Contact our Ride Of Silence Board member, Ben Valin at: rideofsilence.sg@gmail.com.

Other news:

We are almost 8 weeks out before the ride and already we're hitting 150 locations. It's going to be a good year! Organizers, get on the web site and list your ride. People who WANT to be a host (it's very easy), go to the web site menu on the left side, and list the ride YOU want to do.

So long as the distance is between 8-12 miles (12-20k), you cycle no faster than 12 mph (20kph), start at 7 PM, and ride in silence, you can join us. List it and it's that easy.

Let the silence roar!!

c

New 2011 Ride Of Silence Poster

3/7/11

ATTENTION Ride Of Silence site directors and organizers:
The new 2011 RofS poster is in, and on the web site.

I like the look.

Look for it under “Organizer Resources.” Then go half way down the page to ‘Official Poster.”
http://www.rideofsilence.org/resources.php

Please note the accompanying printer directions.
It’s time to paper the streets with The Ride of Silence poster to alert elite and casual riders, and the general public.
“The Ride” is coming!

Please join us May 18, 2011, 7 PM

Chris Phelan, Founder
The Ride Of Silence
www.rideofsilence.org
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttNHKTRMtK4
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Ride-of-Silence/33924790161?ref=ts
Wednesday, May 18, 2011, 7 PM
One day. One time. World Wide.
Let the silence roar.

The 2010 Ride Of Silence:
321 locations world wide
50 U.S. states
26 countries
7 continents
0 words spoken
A million powerful memories.

"I pledge allegiance, to the bicycle, in the United States, and to the righteousness, of every ride. One planet, Many bikes. Indubitable, with liberty and justice for all." - Hawaii Ride Of Silence organizer, Georgette Yaindl

Ahead Of Last Year! Yes!

On Feb 28, our web master Tim Potter wrote:

"Just wanted to let everyone know that we broke 100 events today. Last year we were at 65 confirmed events on this day. We're on a good roll for another record breaking year folks!"

To register your site, go to: http://rideofsilence.org/addlocation.php. You don't have to have all the details ironed out until much closer to the ride date (May 18). You can come back and fill in the particulars at a later date.

You're doing great folks! You make me proud!

c

Cyclists Hurt.

Friday, February 25, 2011
Graphic video.
...Don't we all fear this could happen to us?

http://www.theurbancountry.com/2011/02/critical-mass-carnage.html

...*sigh*