A Moving Ride In Support Of Bicyclist Safety

About fifty dedicated bicyclists (40 signed our registration forms, but we think a few people just jumped on as we went) braved a raw, wet evening to join MassBike for the Ride of Silence last week. We were part of a global movement, joining over 300 other rides worldwide that day, in 22 countries, all 50 states, and all seven continents (yes, including Antarctica). We silently rode through Somerville, Cambridge, and Boston, riding slowly and staying together, wearing signs to explain the ride. I don't know if all the passing cars and pedestrians understood what we were doing, but everyone was very respectful and gave us our space. At Boston Common, we stopped for a few more moments of silence, then a few closing remarks from me and others, including the father of a cyclist killed in Boston last month, and a rider who survived a crash in Boston just the previous week. Despite the bad weather, it was the largest turnout we've had for the Ride of Silence, and I thank everyone who rode for helping us send a very important message.

You can see additional comments from riders here.

Here is some of the press coverage of the ride:
http://www.bicycleretailer.com/news/newsDetail/4090.html
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/newton/2010/05/bicyclist_killed_in_collision.html
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/somerville/2010/05/ride_of_silence_starts_in_some.html
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/somerville/2010/05/_danielle_dreilinger_a_rider.html