Thank YOU for coming to the 11th Ride of Silence in Des Moines. YOUR Support counts.
On a dreary Wednesday, approx 70 cyclists attended the 11th annual ROS in Des Moines to honor and remember those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.
The Ride of Silence exists to
- To HONOR and pay respect to those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.
- To RAISE AWARENESS to motorists, elected officials, and the police force that Cyclists have every legal right to ride on the roadways
- This ride Signifies the importance to staying safe and let others know that CYCLISTS ARE NOT DISPOSABLE!
Cyclists have every legal right to ride on the roadways and this ride signifies the importance to staying safe and increasing awareness.
As we have proven over the last 11 years, The RIDE OF SILENCE is NOT SILENT AT ALL. It is a VERY POWERFUL and EMOTIONAL EVENT
Tonight there are 327 ROS world wide
One day. One time. One world, world wide.
All 47 of 50 U.S. states, 19 Countries, 6 continents, 0 words spoken, A million powerful memories, Let the silence roar....
TONIGHT - 5 of the locations are in Iowa (Cedar Falls | Cedar Rapids | Des Moines | Mason City | Sioux City - Also one in nearby Bellevue NE)
Des Moines HISTORY
2015 marks the 11th year that we have been hosting a Ride of Silence in Des Moines.
Our 1st one being in 2005. That was the times when Daniel
Wisnousky, Brian Shaver and Br. Bob Breedlove were killed and I had a
connection with all 3 them and heard about ROS, and put it on the
calendar. In 2005 we had 100 cyclists show for the 1st one and 160 in 2006. Since then we've had between 100 and 250 each year. I feel we have made an impact
ROS HISTORY
This is the 12th year for ROS. The ROS was started in White Rock Lake in Dallas TX, by
Chris Phelan in 2003 as his friend Larry Schwartz was killed when he
was struck by the mirror of a passing school bus . On May 4th 2003 Larry was killed. May 8 was his funeral where several cyclists came up with the concept of a ride. May 11th emails were sent out and May 21st was the 1st ROS with 1000 in attendance.
Since the last ROS in May, 23 cyclists have been added to the list.
7 cyclists were killed and 13 injured while riding their bicycle.
216 cyclists are now on our list stemming back to 1989. We know there are many more.
EVERYONE SET DOWN...
Ready for this ????
Obviously not ever crash makes the news and names of the victims are not provided for privacy purposes.
We obtained reports this year from the IDOT Traffic and Safety Office
There are 73 bicyclist-involved crashes so far in 2015 AND 319 crashes in 2014
2015 Statistics
Of the 73 bicyclist-involved crashes so far in 2015
· 0 fatal
· 7 major injury
· 42 minor injury
· 21 unknown injuries
· 3 property damage only
2014 Statistics
319 bicycle crashes in 2014 (3 fatalities and 316 injuries) . There were only 19 on our list last year. 300 were missing from our list!
Thanks to
- Steve Fuller for taking the photos
- Scott McDonald from Des Moines Rental for supplying the PA System