On Wednesday, May 19, at 7 p.m., a group of cyclists will depart from a parking lot at the junction of First Street and St. Mary’s Road in Champaign. They’ll make a silent loop through downtown Champaign and downtown Urbana, paying quiet respect to those who’ve been injured or killed while on a bicycle.
Anyone is invited to participate in this Ride of Silence, which will cover about five and a half miles. No one will get left behind, as the max speed at any point in the ride will be 12 miles an hour.
Ride organizer Sue Jones says that this is the fourth year that the Ride of Silence has been held in C-U, and that 35 people participated last year. “I hope to have at least as many this year,” Jones stated. “35 is enough to make an impression on people and it’s bigger than most club rides, which don’t go through town; since we’ll be going single file, that takes a while to go by!”
The forecast is looking good, although the plan is to ride, rain or shine — unless there’s severe weather in the area.
When asked if there are specific victims that the ride will commemorate, Jones said, “I think we’ll always remember Matt Wilhelm [who was killed on Illinois 130 in 2006]. Usually before the ride we talk about specific people and [incidents]; last summer we had our share with Sherry Helfer getting creamed by the hit and run SUV, and not back on her wheels yet with more surgery on her elbow which had to be rebuilt.”
If you’re running a little late this evening, don’t be too concerned. “[W]e don’t leave on time ’cause usually the press means we set things up,” Jones said, alluding to the televisioin coverage that the event is slated to receive.