This Wednesday, May 21, 2014, during National Bike Month, the Ride of Silence will begin in North America and roll across the globe – including Irvine.

Founded in 2003 to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways, promote sharing the road, and provide awareness of bicycling safety, the Ride of Silence is a slow paced, single file bicycle ride in a silent procession.

As I’ve written before, Irvine is indeed a wonderful city for biking, whether for commuting, exercising, or just enjoying the outdoors. We currently have 301 miles of on-street bike lanes and 54 miles of off-street bikeways. Our bicycle trails are some of the most beautiful, and peaceful, places in Irvine.

Yet in Irvine, as everywhere else, motorists must learn to better share the road safely with cyclists; that cyclists have the same rights to the road as motorists; and that cyclists are the most vulnerable users of the roadways.

Too often, although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public isn’t aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.

Orange County has had 14 cyclists hit and killed by motorists since the last “Ride of Silence” on May 15th 2013. These individuals who lost their lives were fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, friends, co-workers, as well as cyclists. We have no idea of the impact they may have had in this world because their lives was taken by a motorist.

The Ride of Silence 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 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.

When: Wednesday, May 21. Gather at 6 PM. Assemble at 6:30 PM. Ride at 7 PM.

Where: Irvine Civic Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza (near the flag poles in front of the Police Department)

Route: The route is a flat 9.7 mile loop around Irvine; we’ll take on-street bike lanes and off street bikeways. East on Alton then return on the San Diego Creek bikeway so we can be fully regrouped by the time we get back to the start.

More information, click here for the Orange County Bicycle Coalition or click here for Ride of Silence Orange County.

You can also learn more, and show your support, on the Ride of Silence – Irvine Facebook page and the Ride of Silence – National Facebook page.

In Memoriam  –  Bicyclists killed in Orange County since last year’s Ride of Silence:

Susan Stripko (June 2, Huntington Beach)
Chelsea Kashergen (June 20, Fullerton)
James Waller (June 28, Irvine/Laguna Beach)
Richard Paine (July 11, Fullerton)
Alberto Ramos (July 20, Stanton)
Debra Deem (Aug 27, Newport Beach)
Manuel Morales Rodriguez (Oct 30, Anaheim)
Michelle Lounsbury (Nov 4, Costa Mesa)
Paul Lin (Nov 6, Newport Beach)
Pete Tomaino (Dec 24, Laguna Hills)
Joseph (Joey) Robinson (Feb 2, Orange)
Matthew Liechty (Feb 19, Huntington Beach)
Alfanso Franco (Feb 20, Santa Ana)
Sean Severson (March 21, Fountain Valley)
Geneveve Hall (April 6, Huntington Beach)
Kathy Sieberhein (April 16, Huntington Beach)
Haitham Gamal (May 6, Dana Point)