Work begins to prepare for the 2020 Ride of Silence – hold the date – the 2020 International Ride of Silence is set for Wednesday, May 20th, 2020, 7:00 PM

Hold the date. Please consider joining in on the participating and the planning. There will be some exciting new developments for the 2020 ride.  

Please contact me at eugeneflinn@bellsouth.net for more information on participating in the 2010 event.

Work has officially begun with an outstanding first organizational meeting; called to order by Michelle Menendez Rodriguez on Wednesday, August 14, 2019. Our next formal meeting is presently scheduled for October 16, 2019, at 6:45 PM. There is much work to do between meetings, including additional people and organizations coming together on this effort.  Please - get involved.

The 2020 International Ride of Silence is set for Wednesday, May 20th, 2020, 7:00 PM (local time) Worldwide

The 2019 Ride of Silence Summary

336 Locations* World Wide

47 U.S. States

15 Countries

7 Continents

0 Words Spoken

A Million Powerful Memories

(*as of 7/16/19 - info taken from official web site)

This is a local event of a worldwide movement designed to raise awareness of cycling deaths, injuries and remembering those no longer with us, killed while riding. I continued to be inspired by the affected families as well as the bike community leaders that I'm proud to call my friends. 

The Ride of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph, wear helmets, follow the rules of the road and remain silent during the ride. There are no sponsors and no registration fees. The ride, which is held during National Bike Month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for and honor the lives of those who have been killed or injured.

Thank you to all the organizers, volunteers and participants who work hard to make this annual event possible.

There will be many more meetings and many other people involved in this event. Please contact me if you would like to participate and/or be involved in the preparation for this event. This is an international event that is held annually on the third Wednesday of May.

Meeting to make the Ride of Silence a massive turnout again, #BikeAwareness — 

with Mike Estevez, David R Heffernan, Domingo Rodriguez, Mario Hernandez, Eugene Flinn, 

Michelle Menendez Rodriguez, Robert Ruano, Sue Kawalerski, Victor Brandon Dover and Mari Chael.

PRIOR RELATED POSTS - (CLICK HERE) to view prior blog articles on past Rides of Silence as well as to follow ongoing updates.

I will continue to keep you up to date. Please attend and participate.

Eugene Flinn

Significant changes to Ride of Silence for 2020. Details posted. You can still participate as listed. Please stay safe and honor those who've been hit & killed or seriously injured while riding.

Ride of Silence (RoS) update - there are significant changes to the 2020 RoS event due to coronavirus. There will be no large organized group ride for 2020. The  RoS will occur as it never has before. But it will still go forward as it is important to honor those who've been hit & killed or seriously injured while riding. 

The event date remains: Wed. May 20th, 2020, 7:00 PM Worldwide

(always the 3rd Wednesday of May) Note there is an alternative date of 10:AM Saturday, May 23,  for the reasons discussed below.

The National RoS Board has set this 2020 RoS ride to participate in the following ways:

• Ride solo, 
• with their family or same household members or "virtually" (on a trainer). 

The simple rules remain:

1.  Ride in silence
2. Remember and honor those who've been hit & killed while riding or seriously injured
3. Ride slowly and a relatively short distance - this is not a race
4. Wear a helmet & obey road laws for bicyclists

Take a selfie photo or 2 and use the hashtag #RideofSilence2020 and location of the event when posting your ride on social media. You can post directly to the official RoS Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/rideofsilence/ 

Posting to Social Media will allow us all to participate as a virtual group.

**Additional ideas for documenting/ reporting:
Some organizers are encouraging their participants to visit a ghost bike in their area (if there is one) and take their photo with it as a gesture of honoring the deceased person. If the name of the deceased is known and can be included in the social media post or report with the RoS that would help to personalize it. Some organizers are placing a ghost bike at their city/ township hall or state capitol to draw attention to the event with their local politicians/ legislators and media. Participants can then visit this ghost bike one by one at a safe distance to show their respects.

Alternative date available:  Saturday, May 23, at 10 am.
Some may not feel comfortable engaging in a solo/family ride  on a weekday evening (the annual official RoS is a large group event with police escort)

In consideration of the safety and security of individuals and small groups of riders who may not feel comfortable riding in the evening on a weekday are encouraged to ride the following Saturday, May 23, at 10 am, which is also the official rain date and date/time for S. Hemisphere events.

The RoS Board


What is the Ride of Silence (RoS)?:

WHERE: Hundreds of locations world wide
Join cyclists worldwide in a silent slow-paced ride (max. 12 mph/20kph) in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.

WHY DOES THIS ORGANIZATION EXIST?
To HONOR those who have been injured or killed
To RAISE AWARENESS that we are here
To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD

THE RIDE OF SILENCE WILL NOT BE QUIET

PRIOR RELATED POSTS - Please CLICK HERE to view prior posts relating to the Ride of Silence / events relating to honoring those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.

Preparations continue for the May 20, 2020, Ride of Silence. Join us.

We had another productive organizational meeting to plan the May 20, 2020, Ride of Silence. We need cycling and driver safety. We need to watch out for one another. We need to mend. All are welcome at the table, both for planning and participating at the May Ride.

#iamacyclist

PRIOR RELATED POSTS - see: August 16, 2019, Work begins to prepare for the 2020 Ride of Silence – hold the date – the 2020 International Ride of Silence is set for Wednesday, May 20th, 2020, 7:00 PM

The 2020 ride will take place along the Underline - the newly emerging park underneath the Miami Metrorail. The ride will start at Viscaya Village (the former Museum of Science location) and work its way down to the University of Miami Station. This is in Partnership with groups coming online (list in formation).

This is a local event of a worldwide movement designed to raise awareness of cycling deaths, injuries and remembering those no longer with us, killed while riding. I continued to be inspired by the affected families as well as the bike community leaders that I'm proud to call my friends. 

The Ride of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph, wear helmets, follow the rules of the road and remain silent during the ride. There are no sponsors and no registration fees. The ride, which is held during National Bike Month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for and honor the lives of those who have been killed or injured.

There will be many more meetings and many other people involved in this event. Please contact me if you would like to participate and/or be involved in the preparation for this event. This is an international event that is held annually on the third Wednesday of May.

Hold the date. Please consider joining in on the participating and the planning. There will be some exciting new developments for the 2020 ride.  

Please contact me at eugeneflinn@bellsouth.net for more information on participating in the 2010 event.

2021 Ride of Silence - Wednesday, May 19, 2021, arrival time 6:00 PM, ride begins at 7 PM

The 2021 Ride of Silence has returned to its live event format and will be held at the traditional location: the Crandon Park Marina Parking Lot, Rickenbacker Causeway, near the Village of Key Biscayne.

What is the Ride of Silence (RoS)?:

WHERE: Hundreds of locations world- wide.
Join cyclists worldwide in a silent slow-paced ride (max. 12 mph/20kph) in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.

WHY DOES THIS ORGANIZATION EXIST?

• To HONOR those who have been injured or killed
• To RAISE AWARENESS that we are here
• To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD

THE RIDE OF SILENCE WILL NOT BE QUIET

PRIOR RELATED POSTS - Please CLICK HERE to view prior posts relating to the Ride of Silence / events relating to honoring those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.

2016 Ride of Silence May 18, 2016, Key Biscayne, Florida

It was my honor - and responsibility to participate in the 2016 Ride of Silence held on Key Biscayne.

This is a local event of a worldwide movement designed to raise awareness of cycling deaths, injuries and remembering those no longer with us, killed while riding. I was inspired by Maribel Reyes (who lost her husband one year earlier near the starting point) & the bike community leaders that I'm proud to call my friends. I join the, in hoping there are no new reasons to do a Ride of Silence.  Thank you to all the organizers and sponsors who worked hard to make this event possible.

See NCB6 report - Ride of Silence Held in Key Biscayne, Stephanie Bertini reports

I am in a unique position on this issue, however, and ask my fellow council members to work with me to move bike safety off the planning stage and onto the implementation stage.  Bikes are a fact of life on our road.  They need room to be safe.  Drivers need room to pass them safely as well as to operate their vehicles.  See the 2006 law (as contained in a 2015 amendment) -  The driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle must pass the bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle at a safe distance of not less than 3 feet between the vehicle and the bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle.

Don’t drivers want, require, more room along our roads to operate?

It is time to focus on an issue long overdue for completion – the bicycle lanes in Palmetto Bay.

I am working with neighboring municipalities and Daniella Levine Cava, our County Commissioner, but it requires the support of a majority of our own village council to make it a reality. 

Palmetto Bay is a municipal partner of Miami-Dade County Bike305, and this will continue under my leadership. I will continue to support and work with groups such as the Green Mobility Network.

Let's all continue to work together and make biking even more accessible, more fun and most of all, safer for all involved.

Above: I am photographed with Maribel Reyes Frankie Ruiz, 

Sue Kawalerski, Eli Stiers and Ralph Rosado

Pictured above:  Libia Casas, Eugene Flinn, Ana Rivas Logan, 

Belen Valladares, Guillermo Cremati, and Mercy Maturrano

Cycling Family Broward’s (CFB) Ride of Silence in remembrance of Carlos Rodriguez and Denise Marsh held Saturday, December 22, 2018. Full video silent ride 12/22/2018

This video depicts the outpouring of support at Cycling Family Broward's (CFB) Ride of Silence in remembrance of Carlos Rodriguez and Denise Marsh held Saturday, December 22, 2018. Many hundreds of cyclists participated. Some officials put the number of participants close to 1,000.  The video provides prospective.

Many participants donated $20 (suggested, not mandatory) to go towards the funeral and medical expenses of all cyclists involved.

 

The ride started at the Corporate Pavilion in Markham Park in Sunrise, FL and was escorted by 7 motorcycle officers from BSO. 

The first two spots on left side open for victims Denise Marsh and Carlos Rodriguez.

This ride served two causes:

One: for Denise Marsh and Carlos Rodriguez.

Two: show the impacted on what careless driven as done . And what needs
to be done about it.

Anyone not familiar with this tragic event may review South Florida Sun Sentinel online: 2nd bicyclist dies after crash in Davie with distracted driver, by Linda Trischitta, Contact Reporter, South Florida Sun Sentinel

CLICK HERE to view prior posts relating to Ride of Silence.

More to follow on a later post

Video and photo credit: Original video posted by Arturo Valery, Published on Dec 22, 2018. Photos Pruna Productions.

Today, May 20, 2020, is the RoS, it is still going on globally but this year it is an INDIVIDUAL or VIRTUAL event

Today is the RoS, it is still going on globally but this year it is an INDIVIDUAL or VIRTUAL event.

Please do your part . We encourage you ride individually, respect our local community social distancing/mass gathering rules. Try and visit a local ghost bike, Key Biscayne, Black point and, unfortunately, other areas too.

.................................

Ride Of Silence, the #SociallyDistanced and virtual edition:

.................................

Official date:

20-May-2020, 7pm

Alternate /rain date:

23-May-2020, 10am

Ride Rules:

1. Ride in silence

2. Remember and honor those who've been hit & killed while riding or seriously injured.

3. Ride slowly and a relatively short distance

4. Wear a helmet & obey road laws for bicyclists & your communities social distancing & mass gathering rules

The official RoS organizers ask you share your pics on social media & to their official Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/rideofsilence/

1. Use #RideofSilence2020

2. Include location, & names of those you honored

See Prior posts relating to the Ride of Silence, including May 17, 2020, Significant changes to Ride of Silence for 2020. Details posted. You can still participate as listed. Please stay safe and honor those who've been hit & killed or seriously injured while riding.

Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Today is the International Ride of Silence event. I ride to honor those injured or killed in cycling accidents.

My ride today is in honor of all cyclists injured or killed in cycling accidents; to pay my respects to them. If your schedule permits help raise awareness and go to the RIDE OF SILENCE happening today in KEY BISCAYNE

Please #sharetheroad ... I respect you, please respect me, #obey the #3footrule #miamibikescene #rideEBC #bike305 #bikeadvocacy  #bicycling #GhostBike #PalmettoBayCyclists #BikeLaw #WhyIRide

See prior related posts on the Ride of Silence (CLICK HERE)

Ride of Silence – 2020 & Reddy's ghost bike – the stop on my modified RoS event

I completed my #rideofsilence2020 #socialdistancing in #PalmettoBay & #CutlerBay #Florida to honor cyclists who were injured or died from cycling related accidents.

Today’s ride was personal rather than the traditional large group ride due to the pandemic and the need to be socially distanced. The purpose of this ride is just as important and many participated this day in unusual ways including indoor and virtual rides.  My ride took from my home in Palmetto Bay through Cutler Bay into deep South Miami-Dade County – Black Point where we stopped to take a moment to reflect at Reddy’s Ghost Bike (pictured). The bike is located along the main drive through black point on the corner with the first driveway turn in to the marina parking.

I ride by the ghost bike often and look upon it as a reminder of Reddy and the need for safety on our roads. Reddy was killed 2 years earlier while training with a group for the Dolphin Cancer Challenge, a major charity to raise money for cancer research. Today’s RoS and this specific ghost bike for Reddy provided me with a strange sensation as we all are now meeting via ZOOM or Skype due to the pandemic. Reddy's parents, who lived overseas, viewed the April 8, 2018, event via Skype. A striking coincidence. Perhaps anyone who has access to Reddy's family information can reach out and remind them that Reddy is not forgotten.

Please #sharetheroad ... I respect you, please respect me, #obey the #3footrule #miamibikescene #rideEBC #bike305 #bikeadvocacy  #bicycling #GhostBike

See prior related posts on the Ride of Silence (CLICK HERE)

More information on Ghost Bikes - from GhostBikes.org:

Ghost Bikes are small and somber memorials for bicyclists who are killed or hit on the street. A bicycle is painted all white and locked to a street sign near the crash site, accompanied by a small plaque. They serve as reminders of the tragedy that took place on an otherwise anonymous street corner, and as quiet statements in support of cyclists' right to safe travel.

Bike305 Holds 'Ride Of Silence' To Raise Awareness About Persistent Problem Of Safety South Florida Cyclists Face

Bike305 Holds 'Ride Of Silence' To Raise Awareness About Persistent Problem Of Safety South Florida Cyclists Face: In a show of solidarity, bicyclists gathered to raise awareness of the persistent problem of cycling safety in South Florida.

Event held Wednesday, May 19, 2021

When will it end? The time has passed for far too many who have waited for the legislature to act on distracted driving

Heartbreaking.  Simply heartbreaking.  Nov 27, 2018, update: DAVIE, Fla. - The news is not getting any better.  As reported by Channel 10 news, Second victim dies after driver crashes into group of bicyclists in Davie, Driver cooperating with investigation, police say: Report that a second person has died after a driver crashed into a group of bicyclists Sunday in Davie, police confirmed Tuesday. Also see Miami Herald online, A second cyclist has died after being hit by a distracted driver during group ride
By David Neal

Carlos Rodriguez, 62, was identified as the latest victim to die from his injuries. Denise Marsh, 53, was pronounced dead at the scene. 

“Wife and mother killed when driver strikes 6 cyclists on Sunday morning group ride” – the headline of a Sunday article posted online Miami Herald, by David J. Neal.  Heartbreaking. No one has prematurely judged the driver – the journalist reported that “The driver said she was distracted, but doesn’t remember from what.”

I find it extremely troubling how so many people feel it is acceptable to drive while distracted. Most often the distractions are voluntary, created by the driver themselves. It is almost as if some drivers try to find something else to do to take up their travel time.Driving and texting is unacceptable. 

As a cyclist, a runner, as a person simply walking my dog through our neighborhood, I have had more than my fair share of close calls. 

I continue to be an active leader of Palmetto Bay, a community that has consistently pushed for strengthening the distracted driving laws. (CLICK HERE to view some of our efforts).

This is a matter of public safety, of preserving life. I don’t understand the reluctance. Innocent people are being permanently injured, worse yet, lives are being lost. 

I may be leaving elected office on December 5, but that will not silence me from continuing the efforts on this issue of great public safety. 

The time has long passed for the Florida Legislature to properly take this issue on and strengthen texting and driving Law currently on the books. 

How many more residents of this great State have to pay the price?

I want to thank past members of our Palmetto Bay Youth Community Involvement Board, particularly Mark Merwitzer, a Palmetto Bay resident, a founding member of our Palmetto Bay Youth Community Involvement Board, and past chair of our Youth Board. Mark is now a student at the University of Florida and is ready once again to lobby our Florida Legislature this coming year.

The Florida Legislature has pre-empted local governments on many issues, including anti-distracted legislation within their own jurisdictions (as they should as this is a State and a National problem, but preemption is a responsibility to act on our behalf).

We have called upon the Florida Legislature to hear the pleas and act numerous times! Let’s get Florida off the list of a mere 4 states(out of 50) which do not consider deadly distracted driving to be a primary offense.  It is up to the Florida Legislature – and our Governor – to enact a statewide law in order to keep our communities safe – everywhere – in public and private, in school and in parks AND on the roads.

Mark has been a contributor to my blog - one of my medias used to stay on the record and push out many issues of importance.  His latest post was last January - on, of course, the importance of ending distracted driving. Please follow the link (click on the headline) to view Mark's post of January 14, 2018, Guest Post - Mark Merwitzer - an advocate for safe roads - ending distracted driving.

Thank you Mark and fellow students for the work with Miami-Dade County and other municipalities. The Florida legislature has seen a massive push from numerous local governments across Florida.  Palmetto Bay has included the anti-distracted driving legislative annually.  We want lives saved.

How many more lives will it take before our legislature and governor act?

Eugene Flinn