Contact:  Adrienne Harris, 510-237-4466, axharris@sbcglobal.net, www.richmondbpac.org/ROS/

Second Annual Richmond Ride of Silence
Richmond, CA. Cyclists and City officials, including Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, will gather Wednesday to honor those who have been seriously hurt or killed while bicycling in Richmond, participating in a slow and quiet ride, traversing areas where the City of Richmond is planning to implement safety improvements.

Held during the week following Bike to Work Day and during National Bike Month, the Ride of Silence aims to raise awareness among motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. 

Participating cyclists will be asked to travel no faster than 12 miles an hour, observe the rules of the road, and remain largely silent. Helmets are required. Uniformed bicycle officers from the Richmond Police Department will be escorting the ride.

According to the most recent data available from the California Office of Traffic Safety, 69 bicyclists were killed or injured in Richmond from 2008-2010.  Recent victims of bicycle accidents who are among those to be honored on this year’s Ride of Silence include: 

·         James Arthur Johnson, seriously injured, Hit & Run & Return Accident, 2nd/Maine  5/5/12
·         Juan Godinez-Garcia, killed, 24-year-old man, Hit & Run Accident, 33rd/Barrett Weds.1:30am 4/11/12; 4/27/12 Richmond Police Investigators located & arrested Driver.
·         David Meza, injured, Hit & Run Accident, Hit from behind by a White Sedan that peeled out of a gas station,  Pennsylvania/Harbour, 3/23/12
·         Raymundo Quijano, killed, 67-year-old man, bike crash w/major head trauma at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline Park, 12:50pm Tuesday 7/12/11
·         Unknown Cyclist, Seriously Injured, Hit & Run Accident, San Pablo Avenue between Robert Miller and Hilltop Drives, 7:45pm 1/5/10

There will be an optional pre-ride starting from Catahoula Coffee (12472 San Pablo Ave.) at 4:30pm, and a brief vigil at the official start at 5:00 pm in front of City Hall at Civic Center Plaza in Richmond.

The ride will be led by David Meza, himself the victim of a hit-and-run accident on March 23rd. During the pre-ride from Catahoula, cyclists will stop at 33rd and Macdonald Ave. to honor Juan Godinez-Garcia who was killed there on April 11th by a hit-and-run driver.

What:  Richmond’s second annual Ride of Silence
When:  Wednesday, May 16, 2012, 5:00 pm
Where:  Civic Center Plaza to Pt. Richmond Farmers Market and back