Ride of Silence

Families For Safe Streets created a ‘story map’ containing short bios and pictures of loved ones killed on our roads.

Check it out and then please add the names and details of anyone you know of who was killed on America’s highways.

The goal is to make human the faceless tens of thousands killed every year. There’s also a ‘toolkit’ with links to help you post story map info on social media.

There are currently about 100 people on the map. Families For Safe Streets' goal is to triple the number of people represented on the Story Map before the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on November 17th. Please help reach this goal.

Story Map — Families for Safe Streets

Families For Safe Streets has created a Community Story Map as a memorial for the millions killed in crashes.

The Families for Safe Streets Community Story Map is ...

A memorial to the millions killed in crashes, a place for loved ones to remember and honor the people they were, the lives they live, and the futures stolen from them.

A virtual public square to gather our community, hold collective pain, and honor those injured and killed in traffic violence.

A call to action demanding attention. Each dot on the Map opens the story of a loved one lost or severely injured in a crash. Each dot tells the real story of traffic violence.

Storytelling gives a familiar face to abstract data, awakens our imagination, and builds the empathy and connection necessary to engage people who have never been affected by traffic violence and inspire them to act.

One story can open a lawmaker’s eyes and change or solidify their view. Thousands of stories paint a clear and devastating picture of the fallout from traffic violence in this country. At this scale, the map provides an unprecedented opportunity to reflect the epidemic of traffic violence.

View the map and add your or your loved one’s story

Story Map — Families for Safe Streets

Another family destroyed by an suspected impaired driver.

Blue Jackets' Gaudreau killed in car-bike crash Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed when they were struck by a vehicle while riding bicycles, according to New Jersey State Police.

NHTSA Releases Bicycle and Pedestrian Crash Safety Facts

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released 2022 Traffic Safety Facts reports on bicyclists and pedestrian crashes. The Bicyclists and Other Cyclists report finds that 1,105 bicyclists were killed in traffic crashes, marking a 13 percent increase from 2021. Additionally, an estimated 46,195 bicyclists were injured, reflecting an 11 percent increase from 2021. Most of the fatalities, 83 percent, occurred in urban areas, and 29 percent of the crashes took place at intersections. Bicyclists involved in single-vehicle crashes with cars, SUVs, light trucks, or vans were more likely to be struck by the front of these vehicles, compared to crashes involving large trucks or buses. Since 2022, these data have included riders of e-bicycles as well as those riding human-powered bicycles and other types of cycles.

The Pedestrians report finds that 7,522 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes, a 0.7 percent increase from 2021 and the highest number since 1981. An estimated 67,336 pedestrians were injured, an 11 percent increase since 2021. The majority of pedestrian crashes, 85 percent, happened in urban areas, 16 percent took place at intersections, and 75 percent happened in the dark. Nearly 1 out of every 4 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes were struck by hit-and-run drivers. Among children aged 14 and younger who died in traffic crashes in 2022, 17 percent were pedestrians.

Bicyclists and Other Cyclists report : https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813591

Pedestrian Report: https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813590

crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov

What a great example of how a bike club can make a difference with spreading the word to improve the safety for all of us on the roads:

Bear National Team Says, "Put It Down, It Can Wait." More than two cyclists are killed per day by traffic crashes in the United States, and the number of fatalities is on the rise. The Bear National Team, a you...

Some great info. on bike mounted video cameras for your reading pleasure & consideration. Having evidence is critical for prosecuting successfully and sometimes just having visible cameras on your bike (front and rear) can be a good deterrence for some would-be intentionally hostile drivers:

CVE member’s ten year experience riding with GoPro, Cycliq and TOOO cameras – Cyclist Video Evidence I started with a GoPro Hero 3. At that time, my goal was mostly to be able to record and share video of my rides, but safety was also in the back of my head. The GoPro was easy to mount, solid, and came in a case that was waterproof also protected the lens. However, the battery would only last less....

Our friends at PeopleForBikes.org recently published an excellent article about why bike infrastructure important that is worth reading and sharing to help build more momentum around the country:

Why is bike infrastructure important? - Tome When people have safe and accessible places to bike, communities become safer and more sustainable, residents enjoy better physical and mental health, and

The DADDS organization hosted MADD recently. It’s exciting to know how close we are to having motor vehicles incorporate technology to stop drunk driving.

MADD Visits the DADSS Lab The DADSS Program was honored to host representatives from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and victims at KEA Technologies in Massachusetts to see testi...

The League of American Bicyclists is calling on Amtrak to take steps to improve the experience for people traveling with bikes and to address barriers for cyclists trying to bring their bike on Amtrak.

You can learn more and sign on to their petition at: https://bikeleague.org/take-action/action-center/?vvsrc=%2fPetitions%2f4780%2fRespond

The Amtrak Bike Task Force, a coalition of local, state and national cycling and tourism organizations coordinated by the League of American Bicyclists, has partnered with Amtrak for over a decade to improve mobility for Amtrak passengers, and to support robust funding for Amtrak. We’re working together to make bike travel by train a convenient and affordable option for more people.

The Task Force recently sent a letter to Amtrak Chief Executive Officer Stephen Gardner making the following recommendations to further improve the experience for passengers taking bikes on trains and to address barriers to access for cyclists trying to use Amtrak.

Action Center | League of American Bicyclists The League of American Bicyclists is proud to support actions at the federal, state, and local level to build a Bicycle Friendly America for Everyone. In our Action Center you…

The Bellevue Bicycle Club and the Omaha Peddlers Club hosted a Ride of Silence this past week in Nebraska to honor those cyclists injured or killed in a vehicle/bike crash.

In 2023 there were SIX people on bikes that were killed in car/bike crashes in Nebraska. That is more than all those killed in the previous five years combined.

2024 Ride of Silence - May 15, 2024 Bellevue Bicycle Club We were very proud to once again participate in the International Ride of Silence on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 7pm. Our starting point was the Twin Creek Tr...

Video from the Koln Germany Ride of Silence. Around the world and united in purpose - a thing of beauty.

Ride of Silence Köln 2024

Video from the Lakeland, Florida Ride of Silence. It's beautiful seeing all the rides reporting in from around the world united in purpose.

Ride of Silence in Lakeland, FL 2024 Honoring those who were killed or injured while cycling. Advocating for safety and awareness.

Some Ghost Bikes just hit different. These Ghost Bikes are installed on Country Club Road in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I can't even imagine the hurt and heart-break behind them.

Just FYI: More events were approved last night and this morning incl. 2 new countries: Spain and Taiwan. So we're at 232 registered events and 14 countries (officially). Who knows how many more events are happening that haven't been registered.

Approved events in the USA can be viewed here:
http://www.rideofsilence.org/locations-domestic.php

International (outside the USA) here:
http://www.rideofsilence.org/locations-international.php

Hope you all have good weather for your events around the world.

::Ride of Silence:: International Locations

Some good news/ developments from our high tech & auto industry:

Bike brands start to adopt C-V2X to warn cyclists about cars More automakers will need to adopt C-V2X to see a real benefit, though.

One of the 3 registered Ride of Silence events in Ontario and the only one west of Toronto/Niagara.

If you're going to be in or near Mexico City, Caravana Ciclista CdMx Ride of Silence is the place to be on May 15th.

Ride of Silence Ciudad de México, en Memoria de los Ciclistas Víctimas de Homicidios Viales, Miércoles 15 de Mayo 21:00 hrs Ángel de la Independencia

Welcome to National Bike Month! Just got a Google Alert that this story was published; was interviewed earlier today. Hope some of my advice helps some people enjoy their riding and avoid common sorts of conflicts with motor vehicles.



The League of American Bicyclists

BIKE SAFETY MONTH: Tips for Cyclists in our Neighborhoods to stay safe According to the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, 36 Bicyclists were killed and 1,030 were injured on Michigan roads in 2022.

The world has lost one of its prominent cycling adventurer who has been inspiring and engaging fellow bicyclists and others along his routes around the world. Very sad. (T. Potter, webmaster; the author is my older brother)

Send a message to learn more

The Major Taylor documentary is available for streaming and it airing on some PBS stations.

The film is narrated by acclaimed opera mezzo-soprano Marietta Simpson, with jazz legend Branford Marsalis reading and interpreting written quotes from Major Taylor. Five-time Emmy Award winning composer/musician Tyron Cooper is crafting a soundtrack for the documentary.

The film features interviews with many top historians, archivists, athletes and activists, who each provide added insight in Taylor’s life and times. Interviews include…

- Edwin Moses – Two-time Olympic gold medalist (track and field)
- Karen Brown-Donovan – Great granddaughter of Marshall “Major” Taylor
- Richard Lapchick – President of the Institute of Sport and Social Justice
- Michael Kranish – Washington Post Reporter and Taylor Biographer
- Randy Roberts – Sports Historian and Author
- Kevin Blackistone – ESPN Commentator / Washington Post Columnist
- Lynne Tolman – Historian, Writer and President of the Major Taylor Association
- Tiffany Benedict Browne, Historian and Founder of “HistoricIndianapolis.com.”
- Kisha Tandy – Curator of Social History, Indiana State Museum
- James Blake – Tennis Star and ESPN Commentator
- Ann Meyers Drysdale – Olympic Medalist (Basketball) and First Female to earn four-year sports scholarship
- Nelson Vails – Olympic Silver Medalist – Speed Cycling
- Gary Sailes – Sports Sociologist and Psychologist
- Charlene Fletcher – Historian, Author and African-American Studies
- Monica Garrison – President, “Black Girls Do Bike”

https://indianapublicmedia.org/majortaylor/

Major Taylor: Champion of the Race - Indiana Public Media Major Taylor: Champion of the Race retraces the life and legacy of an American civil rights pioneer who set more than 20 world records in speed cycling during the heart of Jim Crow America.

Super conversation with Caravana Ciclista CdMx about Ride of Silence events in Mexico and Mexico City. Lots of great things going on with the cycling community in Mexico. So much great energy.

Send a message to learn more

Even back in the 1970's, United States Navy Sailors knew what was what. Love my Shipmates.

New $$ available in the U.S. for walking & biking improvements; steps to manage vehicle safety at local level & more in Vision Zero Network's April e-news. Check it out: https://mailchi.mp/visionzeronetwork/april-2024-e-news

New $$ available for walking & biking improvements; steps to manage vehicle safety at local level & more in our April e-news. Check it out: https://mailchi.mp/visionzeronetwork/april-2024-e-news

This looks like a great idea. Hopefully it's affordable and adaptable to other communities so that we can eventually have something like this available all over the country:

Regional cyclist advocacy group launches new crash tracker and reporting tool | ALXnow The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) announced a new crash tracker that lets Alexandrians and residents of other nearby localities track and report dangerous situations. A release from WABA said the new tracker lets residents of Northern Virginia, Prince George's County, Montgomery Count...

We support Vision Zero initiatives and invite you to do so as well.

Pease see the new Families For Safe Streets' Story Map. Help acknowledge & humanize family & friends killed, hurt in preventable road crashes. Invite others to add their stories, if able. These are not numbers, not statistics. They are loved ones. matters https://www.familiesforsafestreets.org/map

Shhhhh - Don't tell anyone but a recent study shows bicycle-friendly cities are safer for all road users even drivers.

Study shows bicycle-friendly cities are safer for all road users even drivers The study examined 14 small and mid-sized U.S. cities, each with populations ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 residents.

For those in California - the 2024 California Bicycle Summit is coming up fast.

Interested in making the world a healthier, more just, and more sustainable place? Then the California Bicycle Coalition and the California Bicycle Summit are the place to be.

In addition to workshops and discussions on hot topics, the Summit always includes bike rides and other mobile tours, cultural events with the host community, and social gatherings. It’s a great opportunity to add to your bicycle planning toolkit while you grow your network.

Connect with advocates, planners, and policymakers at the California Bicycle Summit 2024! Let's shape a walkable, bikeable California together. See you in San Diego!

Join California’s most important in-person bicycle advocacy and planning conference in Oakland from April 6-9 2022. The California Bicycle Summit is the state’s most important bicycle advocacy event and one of the nation’s leading bicycle-related conferences. We invite anyone passionate about bicycling to join us—whether you’re a bike advocate, city official, planner, or a CalBike member who simply cares ...