Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 27
substance, offering little more than whether
the cyclist was wearing a helmet, as if that is
even relevant information into what caused
the crash.
These same media reports often even fail
to call these tragedies by their proper name.
They are "crashes." Bicycle fatalities are not
"accidents." The word accident downplays
the significance of these life-changing incidents. Accidents imply that nothing could
have been done to prevent it. Rarely is that
the case. Using the word accident, in essence, lets the driver off the hook as if it was
"no big deal."
Serious injuries and loss of life is a big deal.
Most cyclists' deaths are completely preventable. We must demand a change in the way
that we talk about and report bicycle crashes.
That includes law enforcement and the media, but it starts with us, the cycling community.
How we talk about these tragedies is important, but clearly we need to change more
than just language. We must also change behavior. We must demand that any bicyclist
death is one too many.
In Michigan, we lag behind other states
in protecting bicyclists. We are one of just
eleven states without a safe passing law.
Likewise, Michigan does not recognize bicyclists, pedestrians and wheelchair users as
vulnerable roadway users.
In the wake of the horrific events in Kalamazoo, and on behalf of all the bicyclists
who have lost their lives needlessly, the
League of Michigan Bicyclists is working
diligently to make changes. For those who
live in Michigan, you can help create that
change by supporting efforts to enact a
5-foot passing and vulnerable road user legislation that creates enhanced penalties for
drivers who injure or kill cyclists. Please urge
your legislators to fast track these important
bills at www.LMB.org/takeaction.
For those outside of Michigan, please
support similar campaigns focused on improving bicycle safety at the local, state and
national level. Our strength as a cycling community is truly in our numbers, so whether
you are a casual commuter, a competitive
cyclists or somewhere in-between, please engage in ongoing advocacy efforts aimed at
preventing these tragedies from happening
in the first place.
-John Lindenmayer
Executive Director
League of Michigan Bicyclists
CHICAGO RIDE OF
SILENCE
Reflections from the
Organizer
ELIZABETH ADAMCZYK
G
host bikes. Those stark white bikes that stand as memorials alongside a
roadway to honor a cyclist who was killed in a crash.
In Chicago, ghost bikes dot our urban landscape and serve both to
remind us of our fragility as cyclists and to rally us to advocate for safer roads
for all road users.
Each May as the annual Ride of Silence (ROS) rolls out in cities around the
world, these local ghost bikes give life to the Chicago Ride of Silence.
The organizer of the first ever Ride of Silence in Dallas, TX, in 2003, never
intended for the Ride to become an annual event. However, the silence "roared"
beyond Dallas and soon other cities wanted to host a similar memorial ride to
honor their own fallen cyclists. In the spring of 2005, after my first year of bike
commuting in Chicago, I felt compelled to start an ROS in Chicago. After too
many near-miss crashes with motorists, I wanted an event that would call attention to motorists of the need to share the roads with cyclists. I also wanted to
help give a voice to those cyclists I knew who had been killed or injured.
By 2006, I was the organizer of the Chicago Ride of Silence and learning
what it means to be an advocate. Also in 2006, Chicago installed its first ever
ghost bike for Isai Medina. The connection could not be ignored, and the Chicago Ride of Silence route has always been tied to the ghost bikes. The ghost
bikes personalize the Ride for many and give the Ride a distinctive resonance
that calls each of us to rally on behalf of our fallen comrades.
Over the years, the number and location of ghost bikes has varied. Some
bikes endure years after being placed at a site; other bikes fall into disrepair
and remain only a short time. Sometimes no bike is placed. Fellow cyclists
have organized Ghost Bike Rides and have helped the ghost bikes live on
virtually.
While the Ride of Silence is not a Ghost Bike Ride, I have met many of the
victims' friends and families. When a new ghost bike is placed, the route of that
year's Chicago ROS often changes to incorporate the newly placed bike. Unfortunately, the route in this one single night cannot visit the locations of each of
the ghost bikes now spanning the city. Yet after each year's Ride, as I mused last
year, I appreciate the community spirit that inspires the Chicago ROS because
"our Ride and route honors all of the fallen cyclists throughout the years and we
hope that the sentiment of this Ride carries into all reaches of the city."
Continued on Page 35
BICYCLE FRIENDLY AMERICA 27
http://www.bikeleague.org/users/elizabeth-adamczyk
http://www.LMB.org/takeaction
http://www.bedno.com/body/bike/ghostbikes
http://rideofsilencechicago.weebly.com/blog/thank-you
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016
Viewpoint
Spotlight: Bike Shops that are Bicycle Friendly
Sweet Rollin': New Bicycle Friendly Bakeries!
Moscow International Cycling Conference
QBP Grows with its Employees
How To Do A Successful Bike Light Giveaway
A Visit to Davis, California
Bikeshare for All
Double Platinum: How the Boise Bicycle Project Made It To the Top
In Memoriam
Chicago Ride of Silence
Transportation Secretaries Support Bicycling
Dero: Strong Bike Culture is a Core Value of a Bicycle Friendly Business
Inspirations from the National Bike Summit
Summit Recap/Media Mentions
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - Intro
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - Cover1
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - Cover2
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 1
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - Viewpoint
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 3
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 4
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - Spotlight: Bike Shops that are Bicycle Friendly
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 6
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 7
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - Sweet Rollin': New Bicycle Friendly Bakeries!
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 9
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 10
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - Moscow International Cycling Conference
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 12
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 13
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - QBP Grows with its Employees
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 15
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 16
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - How To Do A Successful Bike Light Giveaway
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 18
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - A Visit to Davis, California
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 20
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - Bikeshare for All
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 22
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - Double Platinum: How the Boise Bicycle Project Made It To the Top
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 24
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 25
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - In Memoriam
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - Chicago Ride of Silence
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - Transportation Secretaries Support Bicycling
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 29
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - Dero: Strong Bike Culture is a Core Value of a Bicycle Friendly Business
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 31
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - Inspirations from the National Bike Summit
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 33
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 34
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - 35
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - Summit Recap/Media Mentions
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - Cover3
Bicycle Friendly America Fall 2016 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/bikeleague/BFA_Summer2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/bikeleague/BFA_Winter2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/bikeleague/BFA_Fall2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/bikeleague/BFA_Summer2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/bikeleague/BFA_Winter2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/bikeleague/BFA_Fall2016_GatewayDemo
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/bikeleague/BFA_Fall2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/bikeleague/BFA_Spring2016
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com