Just Do It

Ride of Silence

by Sam Tremble

Wed., May 21, 6:45 p.m. (opening ceremony), 7 p.m. (ride begins), meet at the foot of the Art Museum steps, 26th Street and the Ben Franklin Parkway, rideofsilence.org

There are no registration tents at the Ride of Silence. No free T-shirts and no energy bars. For the last three years, the evening has transformed city streets in Philadelphia into a public forum to mourn cyclists killed on the road and to raise awareness of the cycling population. Unlike the monthly take-the-road Critical Mass, the ride will proceed along car-free streets with a parade permit and police escorts. "We're not trying to fight with motorists," says co-organizer John Siemiarowski, a member of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. "We're trying to let them know that we exist and that they need to be aware of us."

The Ride of Silence started as a one-time event in Dallas in May 2003 to honor Larry Schwartz, an endurance cyclist killed by a school bus mirror while riding (and wearing his helmet). This year's ride will take place all over the world — even inside Antarctica's Palmer Station on stationary bikes. Participants need to bring only a bike and a helmet, though a black armband and lights are encouraged. After a short opening ceremony on the Art Museum steps, the eight-mile trip will begin.

In the last 12 months, six cyclists have been killed on the road in the Philadelphia area, including 14-year-old Tykeem Law. He was shot while riding his bicycle on the 900 block of Federal Street last July.