Southern California - Ride of Silence, Oct 3

After a couple drivers hit cyclists in the Santa Clarita Valley, and the second one died from his injuries, the Santa Clarita Velo (http://www.santaclaritavelo.com/) has organized a Ride of Silence to bring awareness to residents of SoCal and our Valley that cyclists do exist and to be careful out there.

All SoCal riders are asked to attend and help in the fight we all face.

Date: Saturday, Oct 3, 2009
Time: Meet/sign-in at 6:30am. Ride starts at 8:00am.
Start Location: Valencia Town Center Mall (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=magic+mountain+parkway+%26+citrus+st,+Santa+Clarita,+CA+91355&sll=34.415956,-118.557136&sspn=0.007505,0.013733&ie=UTF8&ll=34.417956,-118.553016&spn=0.007505,0.013733&z=16&iwloc=A) Corner of Magic Mountain Pkwy & Citrus St (NE corner of Mall)
Address: 24201 W Valencia Blvd, Valencia, CA 91355
Distance: 11 miles
Route: The ride will go from Valencia to Newhall and loop back through Stevenson Ranch. Route will utilize several very-main streets of Santa Clarita. Exposure will be optimal. Mostly flat with only two, short climbs (150--200m, 5%) to note.
Details:

Ride pace will be 12mph or less.
Please remain silent during the ride.
Helmets required.
The first 300 riders will be given a black arm-band to wear.
Obey all traffic instructions.
Police escort will be present.
(At this point, it is unknown if police will close intersections for riders or not. This will be announced asap.)
A longer, "normal" club ride will immediately follow. (Details to follow.)
Expect media to be present.

I posted a note earlier. Feel free to copy/paste the image elsewhere, it's hosted on my website.

Thanks to you and Velo for doing this. It's important and we will turn out a big crowd I hope.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=587048

^ Oops...sorry. Didn't see it.

Also:

Marco Antonio Valencia has a Trial Setting hearing this Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009 at 8:30am at the North Valley Superior Court, Dept. C, 900 3rd Street, City of San Fernando.

He's still in custody at North County Correctional Facility in Castaic for mowing down a group of cyclists. His bail is set for over $1.3 million.

My wife passed on the flyer to me. I'll see about getting some publicity for the ride.

My wife, my father-in-law and I are looking to incorporate this into our ride that morning.

I was going to ride with the SFV folks that morning, but this ride is more important. I'll be there with the wifey.

I was going to ride with the SFV folks that morning, but this ride is more important. I'll be there with the wifey.

Thanks.

Please don't forget this ride, come on out if you can.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p201/scvroadie/10309-SantaClaritaRideofSilence.jpg

Can't wait to see you all there! I hope there's a good turnout.

Now to try and wake up my wife

Awesome ride...SC Velo did a great job organizing this...
Thanks to the CHP and Sheriffs for traffic blocking....
Estimates were 200 riders!

Then we had a great ride up to Green Valley..thanks lee for the great company!!!

/soapbox on
I am extremely dissappointed in the lack of support by other clubs...I know for a fact that CVC and SFVBC were contacted about this. I dont know about any other clubs.
Not one email was sent mentioning this to their members.
This affects ALL riders!! This guy was one of us, even if we didnt know him personally.
/soapbox off

/soapbox on
I am extremely dissappointed in the lack of support by other clubs...I know for a fact that CVC and SFVBC were contacted about this. I dont know about any other clubs.
Not one email was sent mentioning this to their members.
This affects ALL riders!! This guy was one of us, even if we didnt know him personally.
/soapbox off

I did receive an email from SFVBC regarding the RoS on the 29th. That's why I was there. Not sure about others. But I agree. There should have been a much bigger gathering.

Here's a few of the pics I took..

Irene reading a touching poem moments before the ride.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i278/ca_22/DO%20NOT%20DELETE/Ride%20of%20Silence/DSC09516.jpg

At Valencia/Macbean.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i278/ca_22/DO%20NOT%20DELETE/Ride%20of%20Silence/Untitled-1.jpg

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i278/ca_22/DO%20NOT%20DELETE/Ride%20of%20Silence/Untitled-2.jpg

I did receive an email from SFVBC regarding the RoS on the 29th. That's why I was there. Not sure about others. But I agree. There should have been a much bigger gathering.

Really?
I stand corrected....but I wonder why I didnt get one?? I am a member also.....hmmmm

Great turnout. THanks to all the other guys from Burbank, Santa Monica and other places that showed up in the SCV.

Pics:

http://scvtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG_3897.JPG

http://scvtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG_3905.JPG

I got a little teary eyed when I heard the widow's voice crack. Could happen to any one of us.

I got a little teary eyed when I heard the widow's voice crack. Could happen to any one of us.

I think we all did....

Thanks for coming up and joining us for the Ride of Silence, all of those who came up your presence was appreciated.

It was great to see everyone that showed up from the forums & to ride together afterwards..