Ride of Silence: May 16, 2012 at 7:00 PM

[XLFD]

This afternoon, north of Grand Rapids in Comstock Park, the following accident took place:

 

Car hits biker near York Creek Apts

Updated: Tuesday, 15 May 2012, 2:49 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 15 May 2012, 2:30 PM EDT

ALPINE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - A bicyclist suffered multiple injuries when hit by a car at an Alpine Township apartment complex Tuesday afternoon.

Just before 2 p.m., authorities told 24 Hour News 8, the biker and a car were on Alpenhorn at York Creek Apartments headed toward each other. Witnesses said the driver of the car turned left into the oncoming biker.

The man flew about 20 feet through the air, witnesses told 24 Hour News 8. He was treated at the scene by emergency personnel for a broken arm and broken leg, and was taken to the hospital for treatment of other injuries.

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/kent_county/Bicyclist-hit-by-c...

 

Careless motorists run over, crowd off the street, and turn directly into bicyclists every day. Thousands of bicyclists in the USA are injured each year by the negligent actions of motorists, hundreds are killed.  Yet read through any amount of accident stories, and notice that even when the bicyclist is seriously injured or killed by no fault of their own, the motorist usually gets a free pass, or the benefit of the doubt if they're the only surviving witness.

 

Innovation in street engineering, and share-the-road education, along with enlightened enforcement or enactment of laws to protect BMPs are needed to further reduce these types of accidents.  But even with Complete Streets legislation, the creations of new freeways without considering alternate routes for displaced BMPs will continue.

Tomorrow is the Ride of Silence to remember those killed or seriously injured in these accidents. 

 

This is from the National Ride of Silence website:

 

On May 16, 2012 at 7:00 PM, the Ride of Silence will begin in North America and roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.

In 2003, Chris Phelan organized the first Ride of Silence in Dallas after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed. (Read the full history here...)

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.

Please check the resources on this site. If there is a Ride of Silence in your area, we encourage you to join them. If there is not a ride planned in your area, please consider adding your city to the ever-growing list of sites. To get information on how to organize and host a Ride of Silence, please click here; you might also want to look at our FAQ.

 

There are several organized rides, the closest to Ludington being in Spring Lake or Cadillac.  Take part in your own, it's easy enough to keep up with 12 mph; silence may be harder if you ride with others.