Rides of Silence are supposed to be that- silent. As soon as we took off the friendly chit-chat ended and silence fell on the crowd of approximately 200 cyclists, and I began to feel like I belonged there. The maximum speed of 12 MPH was sometimes difficult- a bit too slow to feel like a ride, but it seemed a respectful speed for something akin to a funeral procession. Police stopped traffic for us at a couple of downtown intersections, and the traffic generally gave us the privileges a funeral procession would have.

Of significance, no charges have been filed against the driver of the Hummer. Would that be true if she had struck another motor vehicle or even a pedestrian waiting at that same red light?

Below is a quote from the invite:

Reasons for the Ride Of Silence:

To express respect and sympathy for the grief that has befallen Sarah Howard's family;

To renew and exhibit our trust that public laws and public works can accomplish the objective of public safety;

To silently express the feeling that when roadway safety is breached, every cyclist's trust is violated;

To conduct ourselves in full view of those who write and enforce public laws, and of those who plan and operate public works. To raise awareness (among motorists, police, and city officials) of cyclists on the road.

The Ride of Silence is a silent slow-paced ride (max. 12 mph/20 kph). Chris Phelan organized the first Ride Of Silence in Dallas Texas in 2003 after endurance cyclists Larry Schwartz was killed by a passing bus mirror on an empty road.

The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph and remain silent during the ride.

The ride is to raise cycling awareness to motorists, police, and city officials. The ride is also a chance to mourn, in funeral procession style, those who have already been killed.

For more information and history of the Ride of Silence please go to the Ride of Silence website http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php