2020 Marks the 18th Annual Ride of Silence
May 20, 2020
The Ride of Silence is a slow, silent bike ride around downtown to honor and remember those killed or injured while biking. All are welcome and encouraged to ride to show solidarity for the community of bikers and walkers who have lost their lives and whose families are forever changed. This ride occurs internationally on the third Wednesday in May.
We normally would gather together in the in CCB Plaza for a few words before going on a group ride, but due to restrictions on social gathering, we are adjust the format and encourage you to ride on your own or with members of your household on Wednesday, May 20, 2020.
There are a few ways you can participate and share in this meaningful experience:
1) Pick a time and place to ride on May 20.
You can roll through your own neighborhood, local greenways, country roads or in downtown. Use one of the routes we provide on our Ride with GPS Bike Durham Club or create your own. The traditional ride time is 7pm but you can ride whenever you can, any time between 9am and 9pm.
2) Gear up
Get your bike ready and don't forget your helmet and lights. Wear a WHITE shirt, if you have one, in solidarity for all those injured or killed and consider printing out a Ride of Silence logo to attach to your shirt and/or bike so observers know why you are riding. (We will provide a printable logo as we near the event date)
3) Ride
Take some time for yourself to enjoy bicycling and reflect on those who have been killed or injured while riding a bike. Many of us know someone or have been victim ourselves. It's important that we do not forget AND we work together to prevent future harm to people riding.
4) Share your story
Use social media to spread the word about your participation in this important event. Add #iBikeDurham and #rideofsilence2020 to your story, Go Live while riding, share photos, or post about your personal experiences riding. You can also log your ride on Strava or Bike Durham members can use one of our routes using Ride with GPS. The goal is to honor those harmed while riding, raise awareness that people need to be able to safely ride their bicycle in Durham, and ask our community to be courteous and follow the law when driving around bicyclists. You can even share some helpful info, like the links below.
https://www.bikewalknc.org/2016/02/how-to-pass-a-bicyclist/
https://www.bikelaw.com/2019/04/north-carolina-bike-laws/
Please join this national event on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 for the #rideofsilence2020
For more information and background on this international event: http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php