On Wednesday, May 16th, at 7 pm, hundreds of Portland area cyclists will join thousands around the world in a slow, silent bike ride to mourn those among us who have been killed while bicycling.
We will meet at 1700 NE Alberta, next to the Community Cycling Center, and will follow a 6 mile route to SE Portland, visiting five ghost bikes en route. We will finish at SE 26th and Stark, next to Lone Fir Cemetery.
A Beaverton route is also planned by the Washington County Bicycle Transportation Coalition. For more info on this ride, other rides around Oregon state, and the national Ride of Silence organization, visit the Ride of Silence website.
Please wear black armbands, and feel free to bring flowers or gifts to leave at the ghost bikes in tribute to the lost lives they represent. We will have a parade permit from the City, which means we will have a police escort riding with us and corking intersections. Kids are welcome if they can ride smoothly in a group. There will be no noise during the ride.
While the risks of bicycling in Portland have dropped steadily over the years, there is still much more we can do. As we work hard towards the bright future of safe cycling for people of all ages and abilities, lets also take a moment to mourn those people who have been lost, and to send a message to their families and friends, and to our leaders, that we have not forgotten them.
Feel free to post questions below. We look forward to seeing you on May 16th.
