Photo by Vince Fedoroff
In Memoriam Led by Guillaume Levesque about 15 riders took part in the Silent Ride Wednesday evening.
Ride of Silence reminds motorists to share the road
Members of the local cycling community gathered at the S.S. Klondike Wednesday night for a silent, slow-paced ride around Whitehorse.
Members of the local cycling community gathered at the S.S. Klondike Wednesday night for a silent, slow-paced ride around Whitehorse.
Sixteen cyclists completed the 10.5-kilometre route around Riverdale and downtown Whitehorse to honour those killed or injured while riding on public roadways.
The cyclists rode quietly, communicating only via hand signals.
The Ride of Silence is a global initiative hosted annually in hundreds of cities to remind motorists that cyclists have a legal right to use the road.
On Wednesday, rides were held across the globe at 7 p.m. The local ride was the second annual event for the territory.
The ride exists for three reasons, local organizer Guillaume Levesque told the Star. Cyclists come together to honour those injured or killed, raise awareness of their rights on the road, and ask all road users to share the pavement.
"I know people who have been killed,鈥� Levesque said. "So this ride is important to me personally.鈥�
Often, motorists need to be reminded that cyclists have a right to use the road too.
"We're not going anywhere,鈥� Levesque said. "I often get comments from motorists that we shouldn't be on the road, but those that bike on the sidewalk get the same message from pedestrians.鈥�
The fact is, a bicycle is technically a vehicle, and cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists to respect the rules of the road.
"All we want is to share the road,鈥� Levesque said. "And that message is for cyclists as well. Cars aren't going to go away either. We need to share the road, and do it safely.鈥�
All types of bikes were involved in Wednesday night's ride.
"Anyone who rides a bike has to hit the road at some point and has felt the danger when 5,000 pounds of steel rumble by you,鈥� Levesque explained. "There is quite a large cycling community here, obviously. It's a good, efficient way to get around. There are a lot of bike commuters as well, especially considering how harsh the weather can be. People still bike to work in the winter.鈥�
While it's always good to remind motorists of the presence of cyclists, Levesque said most drivers share the road appropriately.
"Motorists are generally respectful,鈥� he said. "People brake and I think that translates to respectful cyclists. But there's always aggressive people who don't want to wait for a cyclist, but that's the exception.鈥�
The first Ride of Silence occurred in Dallas in 2003, as a tribute to cyclist Larry
Schwartz who was killed when hit by the mirror of a passing bus.
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Comments (6)
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Jackie Ward on May 21, 2013 at 2:50 pm
I was wondering the same thing PFP. They obviously changed the sign. The bridge is not wide enough to accommodate 2 lanes plus bicycle lanes. Just wait till someone is killed or seriously injured. That will come sooner rather than later. And in my opinion, bicycle riders should be required to have insurance. Obviously not the same as a vechile, but at least some. Who pays for the damage to my car when a biker can't follow the rules of the road? I do. And guess what? You riding your bike to work will not save the world like you think it does. You've been lied to. Carbon credits special, hahah.
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north_of_60 on May 21, 2013 at 10:06 am
Way too many bike riders have an attitude of self-assured smugness which they seem to believe puts them above the law.
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PFP on May 21, 2013 at 7:52 am
what happened to "Walk Bike on Bridge Sidewalk"?
no one can read here?
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Greg Almourne on May 18, 2013 at 11:27 am
I personally have enough sense not to ride a bike on a road in Whitehorse during the winter, unlike a lot of idiots you see trying to prove a point riding around during a winter snowstorm in low visibility. One fellow in particular really took the cake last winter, he's out in heavy snowstorm on fourth avenue during the early morning rush hour in the dark following the vehicle tire tracks through the heavy snow. Then this Einstein drops something, stops, puts his bike down right in the middle of the street and walks back to pick up whatever he dropped. Meanwhile the whole lane of traffic has to come to a stop in the middle of town and wait for him to finish his little performance. Then eventually when he's done everyone got to follow him the rest of the way down 4th avenue at 10 kmh.
My other pet peeve with cyclists is when I'm stopped at a red light and a bicyclist comes sailing along, slows down and (presumably) glances both ways before going on through the red light. I have to carry expensive liability insurance on my vehicle to drive on public roads, but are these examples of cycling menaces I've referred to required to have insurance? Of course not.
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Northone on May 18, 2013 at 7:01 am
Maybe local bicyclists could inspire a bit more goodwill on the part of the community by following the rules of the road. A large number, but not all, seem to think the rules of the road are for everyone else - they ride on the sidewalk, ignore traffic signals, don't slow down or stop for pedestrians and can be arrogant or downright belligerent when someone calls them on their bad behavior.
As a pedestrian, I find bicyclists for more of a day to day annoyance than motorized vehicles. And if I rode my motorcycle like many do their bicycles, my licence would probably be suspended for life.
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Don McKenzie on May 17, 2013 at 1:21 pm
Frame these pictures as it is the ONLY time you will see 16 bicycles following the law in Whitehorse.