Ride of Silence: pro or con for advocacy?

[Helmet Head]

Do Rides of Silence (http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php) affect the popularity of bicycling? In a positive or negative way?

[chipcom]

Hi N_C, didn't like your old user name?

[rando]

neither. most people probably don't know the meaning of it, like the CM rides.

[lima_bean]

you are a big fan of just throwing out these questions without inputting your 2 cents arnt ya =p

[Bekologist]

memorial ride. for fallen and departed brothers of the wheel; popularizing bicycling has nothing to do with them.


mr. head, you are a piece of work. I mention the ride of silence in a thread earlier, and you post a poll

[zeytoun]

Rides of Silence are definitely correlated to the popularity of bicycling. The number of cyclists on certain roads during these rides skyrockets. Cities that have more participants in these rides, also boast of higher numbers of cyclists in general.

[Helmet Head]

I'm torn by this issue. I avoid rides of silence, but I do go on memorial rides.

I'm all for solidarity with our fallen brothers, but I just hate adding fuel to the "cycling in traffic is inherently dangerous" fire.

[chipcom]

I'm torn by this issue. I avoid rides of silence, but I do go on memorial rides.

I'm all for solidarity with our fallen brothers, but I just hate adding fuel to the "cycling in traffic is inherently dangerous" fire.

Yet you do, every day in BF, by insisting that most people cannot ride competently in traffic unless they do it your way.

[Niles H.]

Do Rides of Silence (http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php) affect the popularity of bicycling? In a positive or negative way?

It seems to me that there are different reactions and effects, depending on the individual.

There are some people who turn away from cycling, and turn family members and others away.

Some people probably drive more cautiously and safely, and watch out for cyclists. I know a few people who go through life with a genuine sense of responsibility and right action. These people are more likely to respond with higher levels of attention to safety.

Maybe someone has done (or could do) a survey -- that would be one way to find out more about the various effects these rides have on people.

[Helmet Head]

Yet you do, every day in BF, by insisting that most people cannot ride competently in traffic unless they do it your way.
Riding in accordance with the rules of the road is not MY way.
It is, however, what allows cycling in traffic to not be inherently dangerous.

[pedex]

Maybe someone has done (or could do) a survey -- that would be one way to find out more about the various effects these rides have on people.


just got back from the local ROS ride here, onlookers for the most part were cool with it, we passed out lots of flyers during the ride explaining what it was all about

whether or not it raises awareness I dont know, it for sure lets folks know there are lots of us out there when we are all in one big group

as an aside and this is just an observation but it always kinda cracks me up, as an advocacy ride with a few self designated ride leaders and local bike safety advocates I always find it amusing that almost everyone has helmets, about half have mirrors, and yet not one single bike on the ride was road legal by ohio law !!! imagine that

[Falkon]

Considering the news coverage we got, I'm going with a definite pro.

[invisiblehand]

We just did the Albuquerque ROS. I don't think that the primary message is that road riding is dangerous. Although I can see how someone might interpret it that way. Then again, I think that we would all want people to take riding in traffic seriously and think about how to do it safely. There is an awareness message associated with the ride.

Hmmmm, perhaps I would like to change my vote or a slight pro.

[KrautFed]

As cyclists, pro, but the general population, I just don't know. There were a lot of P.O.ed motorists that were forced to the side of the road and stop while the whole 150+ rode by at 5mph. Some people saw it as a funeral procession, while others just saw it as more cyclists getting in the way. I specifically remember one old man EXTREMELY upset that he couldnt back out of his driveway and verbally announcing his thoughts to the group. I think our biggest supporters were the kids under the age of 5 waving at us thinking we were some type of parade.

This mornings paper and last nights news broadcasts probably had a lot of people saying "Ohhhh, THATS what those cyclists were doing" and sort of justified us, but I'm sure a large part of the population still doesnt get it.

[rule]

Anybody who can't figure out what a reverent procession of black arm banded cyclists are doing isn't too bright in the first place. Most things in life probably confound them on a routine basis.

[KrautFed]

Anybody who can't figure out what a reverent procession of black arm banded cyclists are doing isn't too bright in the first place. Most things in life probably confound them on a routine basis.

Not defending the motorists, but how are they supposed to know what a group of cyclists who are some wearing full kits, and black/red armbands against their black/red gloves supposed to know what they are doing?

[AlmostTrick]

The rides of silence are a good thing for many reasons but they shouldn't be held on "bike to work week". During this one week which is designated for recruiting new bicycle commuters, a funeral procession showing prospective riders what could be their fate certainly is not going to help.

The majority of the general public already thinks cycling in traffic is crazy and dangerous. Why highlight the fact that some cyclists do get killed at the same time you're trying to increase ridership?

[savage24]

I'm torn on this issue as well. I don't participate in Ride of Silence, primarily because I think that many motorist will see it as bicyclist "pointing the finger" at them while making no distinction between cyclist killed/injured by negligent drivers and cyclist killed/injured due to their own negligence.

[SingingSabre]

Rides of silence aren't about popularizing cycling.

[Roody]

I think they promote solidarity among cyclists--a good thing.

I think they make cagers more aware of cyclists on the roads--also good.

I think they might scare off some new cyclists because they draw attention to the putative dangers of cycling--not good.

I would have participated but I had to work.

[Roody]

you are a big fan of just throwing out these questions without inputting your 2 cents arnt ya =p
Please translate into English if you're able.

[Brian Ratliff]

As cyclists, pro, but the general population, I just don't know. There were a lot of P.O.ed motorists that were forced to the side of the road and stop while the whole 150+ rode by at 5mph. Some people saw it as a funeral procession, while others just saw it as more cyclists getting in the way. I specifically remember one old man EXTREMELY upset that he couldnt back out of his driveway and verbally announcing his thoughts to the group. I think our biggest supporters were the kids under the age of 5 waving at us thinking we were some type of parade.

This mornings paper and last nights news broadcasts probably had a lot of people saying "Ohhhh, THATS what those cyclists were doing" and sort of justified us, but I'm sure a large part of the population still doesnt get it.

Those people yelling at the ride of silence, while angry in the moment, might later reevaluate, in private, their priorities in life. Putting expedience before the honorable rememberance of the dead, regardless of who it is, is never honorable. That's why everyone is expected to yield to funeral precessions.