Tonight is the 15th annual Ride of Silence here in Fort Worth and Dallas — and all over the world. Cyclists will ride in silence but the message is loud and clear: bicycle riders have the right to share the road with cars and trucks.
The Ride of Silence began in Dallas as a one-time event to commemorate endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz, who was tragically struck and killed by the mirror of a passing bus on May 1, 2003 north of McKinney. The incredible rider pedaled over 25,000 miles in 2002 and had already cycled over 7,600 miles in the first four months of 2003 before he was hit. The sobering first ride at White Rock Lake attracted over 1,000 cyclists with only a week of word-of-mouth publicity.
The heart-breaking event has expanded to educate cyclists and motorists about safe practices. It is shocking that 818 bicycle riders died in the U.S. in 2015, a huge 12% jump over the previous year.
Thousands of bikers throughout the world will simultaneously ride in silence starting at 7 pm. The rides are scheduled in 445 locations in all 50 states and in 48 countries.
Bikers of all skill levels, including kids, can participate and the rides are free and open to the public. Bring your family or just hop on your bike.
Join the Fort Worth and Dallas Rides
Here’s what you need to know if you are here in Fort Worth:
Cyclists are meeting at the gazebo on Trinity Park Drive at 6:30 pm. At 7 pm, participants will remember the bikers who have been injured and killed in traffic accidents in the last year. Our wonderful “bike-crazy mayor” Betsy Price will then share a few words and join us as we depart at 7:15 pm for a leisurely-paced 10-mile ride through downtown Fort Worth, the
Near Southside and the zoo.
In Dallas, cyclists will gather on the west side of White Rock Lake and at the west side of the new Ronald Kirk Pedestrian Bridge downtown.
I am riding in Fort Worth.
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