Mobile’s cycling community will roll out Wednesday, May 18, 2011, for the city’s Ride of Silence, one stop in an international observance held to commemorate cyclists who have been killed or injured while riding on public roads. The Mobile ride begins at the Washington Square fountain and is scheduled to conclude by or before 7 p.m., ahead of that evening’s 7:42 p.m. sunset.
The local ride takes on added weight after a difficult stretch for area cyclists. Two riders were struck by cars during the Mobile Infirmary Duathlon the previous weekend, and cycling advocates note that Mobile routinely ranks among the more dangerous cities in the country for people on bikes. Organizers hope the sight of a slow, silent procession will register with both motorists and city leadership.
How the Ride Works
Ride of Silence events begin at 7 p.m. local time in cities around the world, but Mobile organizer Jeff Grill has set an earlier 6 p.m. rollout so participants finish before dark. All cyclists are invited to take part. A few ground rules apply: every rider must wear a helmet, reflective attire is strongly encouraged, and riders stay silent for the duration of the procession — the silence itself being the point of the ride.
The route for the 2011 Mobile ride was published online through MapMyRide, allowing riders to review the course before Wednesday evening’s start at Washington Square.