Welcome to the 20th anniversary of the Chicago Ride of Silence.
A few notes about the Ride tonight:
First, if you have not yet registered, please do so now. Please also grab a map/cue sheet.
We still have pins and stickers with the original Ride of Silence logo… available while they last. All donations support our website and updating our promotional materials.
Our route this year passes crash sites (past and present) – some without ghost bikes. Yet we remember. While we cannot visit every site, we invite you to visit our website for the full list of our fallen.
Our route will start by going south to Balbo and then return north along the lakefront path to visit a couple more sites, before exiting the path at Oak Street using the pedestrian underpass. Our route will conclude at a crash site from September 2024 in Lincoln Park.
We invite everyone for a post-ride gathering at a local spot around the corner on Fullerton – the Arrogant Frog – for refreshments and sharing.
Thank you to the Active Transportation Alliance and FK Law who helped make this event possible again this year. And to the SAFE Ambassadors and all serving as official ride marshalls in the hi-viz vests. They are here to keep us safe as a group tonight, so please heed their guidance. Thank you to Ashland Addison florist for the white roses and carnations. And a big thanks to all of you!
(pause)
We ask that no one get ahead of me at the lead of the ride; at the back of the group will be Ted pulling the Ride of Silence sign.
Tonight, we gather with communities around the world to honor our fallen loved ones. There are at least 12 events taking place throughout Illinois tonight.
Tonight also marks the 20th anniversary of this Ride of Silence in Chicago. We continue to ride each year because we still need to ride – we unfortunately continue to experience tragedies on our roads, and we always wish to honor and remember those who have been killed.
Tonight, we gather in community, some of us crash survivors … all of us here in support of each other.
Tonight is a time of shared community, shared silence, shared sadness, shared joy, shared roads.
As we do each year before we depart, I will now read the Ride of Silence poem by Mike Murgas:
Tonight we number many but ride as one
In honor of those not with us, friends, mothers, fathers, sisters, sons
With helmets on tight and heads down low,
We ride in silence, cautious and slow
The wheels start spinning in the lead pack
But tonight we ride and no one attacks
The dark sunglasses cover our tears
Remembering those we held so dear
Tonight's ride is to make others aware
The road is there for all to share
To those not with us or by our side,
May God be your partner on your final ride
- Mike Murgas
A few notes about the Ride tonight:
First, if you have not yet registered, please do so now. Please also grab a map/cue sheet.
We still have pins and stickers with the original Ride of Silence logo… available while they last. All donations support our website and updating our promotional materials.
Our route this year passes crash sites (past and present) – some without ghost bikes. Yet we remember. While we cannot visit every site, we invite you to visit our website for the full list of our fallen.
Our route will start by going south to Balbo and then return north along the lakefront path to visit a couple more sites, before exiting the path at Oak Street using the pedestrian underpass. Our route will conclude at a crash site from September 2024 in Lincoln Park.
We invite everyone for a post-ride gathering at a local spot around the corner on Fullerton – the Arrogant Frog – for refreshments and sharing.
Thank you to the Active Transportation Alliance and FK Law who helped make this event possible again this year. And to the SAFE Ambassadors and all serving as official ride marshalls in the hi-viz vests. They are here to keep us safe as a group tonight, so please heed their guidance. Thank you to Ashland Addison florist for the white roses and carnations. And a big thanks to all of you!
(pause)
We ask that no one get ahead of me at the lead of the ride; at the back of the group will be Ted pulling the Ride of Silence sign.
Tonight, we gather with communities around the world to honor our fallen loved ones. There are at least 12 events taking place throughout Illinois tonight.
Tonight also marks the 20th anniversary of this Ride of Silence in Chicago. We continue to ride each year because we still need to ride – we unfortunately continue to experience tragedies on our roads, and we always wish to honor and remember those who have been killed.
Tonight, we gather in community, some of us crash survivors … all of us here in support of each other.
Tonight is a time of shared community, shared silence, shared sadness, shared joy, shared roads.
As we do each year before we depart, I will now read the Ride of Silence poem by Mike Murgas:
Tonight we number many but ride as one
In honor of those not with us, friends, mothers, fathers, sisters, sons
With helmets on tight and heads down low,
We ride in silence, cautious and slow
The wheels start spinning in the lead pack
But tonight we ride and no one attacks
The dark sunglasses cover our tears
Remembering those we held so dear
Tonight's ride is to make others aware
The road is there for all to share
To those not with us or by our side,
May God be your partner on your final ride
- Mike Murgas