Annual Ride of Silence Columbus with Yay Bikes

Join cyclists in a short, slow and silent processional through Downtown Columbus in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways with the annual Ride of Silence on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at 5:30 pm with YAY Bikes.  Riders will be participating in cities worldwide for this movement, and Columbus has hundreds of participants.

The group will gather from 5:30–6:30pm at Columbus City Hall, enjoy a brief presentation at 6:30pm and roll at 7pm. Following the ride, we are rolling up High St to North High Brewing. 20% of all sales for the night will be donated to Yay Bikes! The ride is free and registration is not required, but you will be expected to remain silent for the entire 10 miles and ride in a slow, organized processional.

The Ride of Silence is a response to the aggressiveness and intimidation that cyclists face on the roads of our city.  The main goals of the ride are:

• Remember and mourn those killed by motorists,
• Raise awareness that our community has, and supports, a large population of cyclists,
• Show the public that cyclists are not going to stop riding on the roads,
• Point out that we ask for respect from motorists,
• Remind motorists that we wish only to SHARE the roads.

The first Ride of Silence was created in response to the death Larry Schwartz, a well-loved cyclist from Plano, Texas who was struck by a school bus in 2003.  Over 1,000 cyclists gathered for the memorial ride.  The next year, Larry’s cycling friends brought the Ride of Silence to their communities, including Columbus, Ohio.  The event has spread nationwide and worldwide, with over 300 communities planning simultaneous Rides of Silence to occur the third Wednesday of May.

• Black armband – know, and mourn, a cyclist fatality with an auto
• Red armband – for those that have been injured by a motorist.