Our Hickory Velo Club will participate in the 22nd annual international Ride of Silence today, Wednesday, May 15th, 7 PM, with a 7-mile, family/casual paced ride to commemorate cyclists killed or injured in traffic crashes, like the severe hit-and-run accident a longtime elite Granite Falls cyclist suffered - and survived - near Hickory Airport almost a year ago. His crushed bike is in the lower right shot above. Police later found the driver.
As noted above and on the Ride of Silence site, the purpose of the ride (the notes in parentheses are mine) is:
- To HONOR those who have been injured or killed (in road traffic crashes)
- To RAISE AWARENESS that we (cyclists) are here (on the road)
- To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD
In keeping with the bullets above, here's a shot of a young cyclist and a Hickory Police Officer on an e-bike riding during our well attended Ride of Silence ride last year.
That, to me, is a bright sign that Safe Streets For All is a cause well worth pursuing! More about steps in that direction later.