There will be two Rides of Silence in Tampa on Wednesday at 7 PM. One will leave from downtown Tampa at Curtis Hixon Park on Ashley Street; the other will leave from the USF campus area -- location to be determined. Stay tune for details on that ride.
The Tampa Bay area has been scarred by too many bicyclist deaths and the bicyclists killed cross all ages, backgrounds and economic groups. In Hillsborough County/Tampa alone, a dozen bicyclists were killed by motorists in 2010.
The two rides will include passing all four ghost bikes in the Tampa area.
Ghost bike for retired Navy Admiral LeRoy Collins, killed July 29, 2010 at Brorein Street and S. Hyde Park Ave. Adm. Collins lived on Davis Islands in Tampa. A doctor heading to work at Tampa General Hospital made a left turn on red killed Adm. Collins.
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Ghost bike for Kayoka "Kay" Ishizuka, killed Sept. 26, 2010 on Bruce B. Downs/30th Street. Kay worked as a USF Health researcher. A hit-and-run driver killed Kay.
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Ghost bike for Diane Vega, killed Oct. 1, 2010 at Spruce and Himes. Diane workeed for FedEx and lived in Tampa. A motorist ran a red light and killed Diane who was heading home from work.
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Ghost bike for Robert Niedbalec, killed Feb. 13, 2011 on Fletcher Avenue. Robert was a veterinarian who lived in Temple Terrace. A speeding motorist, possibly racing with another motorist, lost control of her car and struck Robert while he rode his bicycle in the bike lane.
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Clearwater is also having a Ride of Silence:
Greetings Suncoast Cycling Club members,
Plans for our May 18 Ride of Silence are taking shape, and this is your first "heads up" to plan to attend this global memorial event.
This year's ride will feature a new route of just over 11 miles, part of which will follow scenic Edgewater Drive and Bayshore Boulevard in Dunedin, with beautiful early evening views across the bay to north Clearwater Beach and Caladesi Island State Park. As in years past, our ride will leave 7 PM sharp from the Publix Parking Lot at Caledesi Shopping Center, Curlew Road and Alt. 19 in Dunedin, with police assistance for the entire route.
This is also a call for a volunteer (preferably two) to ride sweep for the route, since our police escort will be assisting from the front to get us safely through busy intersections and/or traffic lights. Riding sweep simply involves staying behind the last riders to ensure that all return to Publix safely. The club's sweep kit (spare tubes and C02 cartridges) will be available in the slight chance it is needed. While lights are strongly advised for all participating, sweep rider(s) will be REQUIRED to have bright, functional tail and head lights. If you are willing to assist, please let me know via return email.
Please plan to attend if you are able, and encourage your family and friends who might not otherwise be interested in club rides to participate. Remember, this is a slow-paced ride (think funeral procession), so just about anyone can participate. It is a very moving experience to pedal slowly along hearing only the whir of freewheels spinning and chains pulling.
Further details will follow as the date approaches. For more information and to understand the scope of this international event, please visit www.rideofsilence.org
Dottie
Chainwheel Drive
1770 Drew Street
Clearwater, FL 33755
727-441-2444
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