Wednesday, May 20, 2009 5:27:44 AM

**** PRESS RELEASE ****

www.rideofsilence.org www.funtrails.org

Where:
Colonnade Shopping Center, Dowlen & Phelan, Beaumont

Who:
Cyclists; road, recreation, commuter, race, triathlon. All who legally share
the road

What:
The world wide Ride Of Silence™ bike rally

When:
Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 7 PM

Why:
• to mourn those cyclists already killed by motorists
• to raise awareness (among motorists, police, and city officials) of cyclists on the road
• to have motorists know we only want to share the road we ride on
• to show that cyclists are not going away

THE RIDE OF SILENCE WILL NOT BE QUIET
On the third Wednesday of May, at 7 PM local around the world, cyclists will take to the roads in a silent protest of the carnage taking place on the streets.

Chris Phelan organized the first Ride Of Silence in Dallas in 2003 after endurance cyclists Larry Schwartz was killed by a passing bus mirror on an empty road.

The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph for no longer than an hour, and remain silent during the ride.

The ride hopes to raise cycling awareness during bike safety month to motorists, police, traffic engineers, insurance companies, and city officials. The ride is also a chance to mourn, in funeral procession style, those who have already been killed.

The ride requests black arm bands be worn, red only if you have had a bike/motor vehicle accident. Helmets are required; bright clothing and lights are highly recommended for the ride home. There are no fees charged anyone to participate.

Phelan is looking for as many cyclists as possible to join in one of many locations in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, South and Central America and the rest of the world. Last year there were over 300 locations in all 50 US states, and 18 countries including: Antarctica, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Caribbean, China, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, and Spain.

In the past 6 years we have had 12 fatalities and uncounted injuries in bicycle vs. automobile accidents in the Golden Triangle area, Please ride safely and obey all traffic laws.

April 14, 2003: Blake Harmon, 13, of China;

June 24, 2003: Brenda Hebert, 45, of Port Arthur;

July 7, 2003, Terence Alan White, 12, of Hillister;

October 15, 2004: Kathy Grantham, of Beaumont;

December 6, 2005: Tammie Kaye Wilks, 32, of Dallas;

June 6, 2006: Brian Leighly, 40, of Beaumont;

June 17, 2006: Pearl Ross Wilson, 75, of Nederland;

October 11, 2007: Rickey Simmons, 48, of Orange;Feb. 9, 2008: Crescenciano Pluma-Morales, 27, of Mexico;

Nov. 7, 2008: Louis Brown Jr., 22, of Beaumont;Dec. 13, 2008: Wendy Donahey Ferguson, 34, of Orangefield;

April 23, 2009: Jose Tristan, 73, of Beaumont.

For more information contact Tom Simon (409)860-5532 or Rick Beaulieu (409)626-2168