Ride of Silence

Worldwide Silent Ride Honors Bicyclists Injured or Killed in Traffic Accidents Worldwide.

Podilatokinisi, an organisation devoted to the promotion of bicycling and the country’s largest cycling association, today announced that the club will participate in this year’s memorial Ride of Silence to honor bicyclists killed in traffic accidents worldwide. Cyclists who wish to participate should assemble at D’Avila Moat municipal parking place in Nicosia prior to 7:00 PM on Wednesday, 20 May 2009. The ride will take place under the auspices of the Municipality of Nicosia. For more information, participants should visit the club’s website, www.podilatokinisi.net.

The first Ride of Silence took place in Dallas, Texas in 2003 and was organised by the friends of Larry Schwartz, a cyclist killed by a school bus mirror in Dallas that year. On 20 May 2008 there were 300 rides worldwide with more than 22,000 cyclists in attendance. The slow-paced ride honors those who have been injured or killed on public roadways across the globe.

“We are organizing the Ride of Silence to Cyprus to remember cyclists here and abroad who have been killed or injured by vehicular traffic”, said Andy Hadjivasiliou, president of Podilatokinisi. “We also want to draw attention to the hazardous road conditions cyclists face here in Cyprus and to remind Cypriot motorists that we all share the same roads. We are honored to be part of this worldwide event, and we are extremely grateful to the Municipality of Nicosia for its assistance and support”.