Begin forwarded message:
> From: Mark Hagar
> Date: March 26, 2007 12:12:51 AM PDT
> To: , ,
> ,
> Subject: 2007 Ride of Silence
>
> Hello Oregon Bicycle Racing Association,
>
> My name is Mark Hagar and I am with the Ride of Silence, the ride
> that honors cyclists whove been injured or killed by motorists
> while riding, and whos goal is to help educate motorists and the
> public that we as cyclists have the same rights and must follow the
> same rules, so please Share the Road with us. The 2007 Ride of
> Silence will start globally on Wed. May 16th, at 7:00 PM. Rides in
> the southern hemisphere will take place on Sat. May 19th at 10 AM,
> for rider safety, and greater visibility to the public and media.
>
> Please help support the Ride by promoting it within your
> organization and all you local clubs. Currently OR has 5 confirmed
> locations on our website for this years Ride. There are 152
> registered on our website internationally, with the list growing
> daily. With your support, hopefully there will be numerous Rides
> all over OR, and it will continue to grow all over up until the day
> of the Ride.
>
> http://www.rideofsilence.org/locations-international.php?i=OR#OR
>
> If you are unfamiliar with the Ride of Silence, below is a brief
> history;
>
> * In 2003 endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz is struck and killed by
> the mirror of a passing bus while cycling outside of Dallas. His
> good friend & Coach Chris Phelan organized a memorial ride in
> Dallas on May 18th, titled the Ride of Silence, a slow paced silent
> 12 mile ride to honor/remember his friend. In just a 10 day period,
> via email and word of mouth, over 1,000 cyclists attend. Chris
> thought he had closure.
>
> * Word spread about the Ride. Chris began to get enquiries from
> cyclists in other cities on holding a Ride of Silence. A grassroots
> movement takes place.
>
> * In 2004, Rides of Silence take place on May 18th at 7:00 PM in 50
> cities in the U.S. and Canada. The Dallas Ride has 2,500 cyclists
> attending. Its written up in Bicycling magazine.
>
> * Chris actively promotes the Ride. A board of directors is in
> place. A copyright is applied for the Ride of Silence name.
>
> * In 2005, Rides of Silence take place on Wed. May 18th at 7:00 PM
> in over 100 U.S cities, 150+ worldwide, in 9 countries, on 4
> continents. The Dallas ride again has 2,500 cyclists. The Dallas
> City Council issues a proclamation that May 18th 2005 is The Ride
> of Silence Day.
>
> * In 2006, Rides of Silence take place in over 200 U.S cities, 250+
> worldwide on Wed. May 17th at 7:00 PM, in 8 countries, across 5
> continents. The Dallas ride has close to 3,000 cyclists. The
> Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists Andy Clarke
> and board member Preston Tyree attend the Dallas ride. The board
> applies for and receives non-profit status as an organization.
>
> This is NOT a Critical Mass Ride. Theres no shirts or items for
> sale, theres no fee or registration. Each ride is approximately
> 10-12 miles long, is ridden at a 12 MPH pace, and is Silent. Its
> not just a club ride. Its a ride for Moms, Dads, brothers &
> sisters, family & friends, beginning cyclists to the racers, anyone
> who wishes to honor a fellow cyclist that has been killed or
> injured by a motorist while out riding and to let them know they
> MUST Share the Road with us. Participants are asked to wear a black
> arm band to honor a cyclist whos been killed, and/or a red arm
> band to honor a cyclist that has been injured. The Rides date
> purposely coincides with National Bike Safety Month and Week. Most
> locations involve their local law enforcement agencies.
>
> As one of the Rides 2 Mentors, I help locations who are
> interested, in organizing a Ride of Silence. Many locations have
> put on a successful Ride within a months time. I helped dozens of
> locations organize their 1st Ride. Please do not hesitate to
> contact me.
>
> If there are any closed course, circuit races going on the evening
> of the 16th, please consider the following, which is what has been
> done in Grattan Michigan USA at the Wed. Night Racing Series the
> past 2 years. In support of the Ride, all racers have ridden one
> slow lap in silence, to honor their fellow cyclists. The comments
> as submitted as part of the Rides follow-up, by the timer at
> Grattan who organized this in 2005 & 2006:
>
> 2006 Grattan MI, Wed. Nite Race Series 150 Riders
> May 17th, Approximately 150 racers lined up at Grattan Wed. Night
> Raceway Series, to do one slow lap in total silence. Every one was
> aware of the importance of this lap, some actually thanked me for
> arranging it. Safety Chair, Rapid Wheelmen. Jochen Ditterich
>
> To learn more about the R of S, please visit the website below.
> Thanks for any support you can provide and in helping to make the
> road safer for all cyclists.
>
> Sincerely,
> Mark
>
> Mark Hagar
> Ride of Silence, Board Member, Mentor & Club Communications
> Ride of Silence, Michigan Director
> Ride of Silence, 2005-07 Grand Rapids MI Ride Organizer
> http://www.rideofsilence.org
> Mark.Hagar@rideofsilence.org
> 616 987-9198
>
> If constellations had been named in the 20th century, I suppose we
> would see bicycles. Carl Sagan