Bicycle Ride of Silence May 21 starts in village

Sat, May 17, 2008    to del.icio.us

SPRING LAKE — The Ride of Silence will begin in Spring Lake's Central Park at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21.

The Ride Of Silence is a free event that asks its participants to ride no faster than 12 mph. Cyclists will ride an 8-mile course consisting of bike paths and roads in a silent, funeral-style procession to honor cyclists who were killed or injured while bicycling on public roadways.

The only requirements for participating in the ride are a bicycle and helmet.

Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves, organizers of the ride say. Since 2000, at least 14 people were killed and 13 people injured by motor vehicles while cycling along the Lakeshore, according to the organizers of the event.

Organizers said community leaders and local police officers have committed to support and participate in the ride.

On the Net:

www.rideofsilence.org