Ride of remembrance
Velo Cape Breton to host annual Ride of Silence in May
Velo Cape Breton to host annual Ride of Silence.
Micheline Guillot has been riding bicycles for more than 30 years as a way of transportation.
Guillot started riding bikes when she was a young girl. She would wait for her brother to leave the house and she would take his bike for rides, arriving home just before he was expected to return.
Since then, the Westmount resident has been an avid bicycle rider and is currently a member of Velo Cape Breton, a non-profit, volunteerrun bicycle organization that serves bike riders across the island.
Velo Cape Breton is currently organizing its annual Ride of Silence in honour of cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways.
Guillot said it’s important to have this ride each year in order to remember those who were killed or injured riding their
bikes.
“People can see us riding in single file, showing them that we follow the rules,” she said. “We belong on the road, we have to do the same thing as vehicles, we have to follow the rules. They have to know that we belong on the road too.”
Guillot has participated in each of the six Ride of Silence events in Cape Breton.
“It’s all about education and awareness, knowing that bicyclists
have a right to be on the road and given space, just like vehicles do,” said Guillot.
This year’s Ride of Silence is scheduled for May 17 at 7 p.m., rain or shine. The route for the ride was not confirmed at press time, however the ride will have a police escort, and will start at the Prince Street Shopping Centre.
The free ride, approximately 11 kilometres long, is open to the general public. Riders will be
asked to remain silent through the ride and drive no faster than 15 kilometres an hour. Riders must wear a helmet and follow the rules of the road.
Earlier this month, George Murray Cavanaugh, 57, of Port Hawkesbury was killed in an accident with a truck while riding his bike on the Trans-Canada Highway in Aulds Cove.
Paul Babin, vice-president of Velo Cape Breton, is encouraging people to participate in the ride.
“It’s a quite, silent ride and it gives a chance for people to think about people who have been lost, people who were out doing a recreational ride, enjoying themselves and having fun and they got killed doing it,” said Babin. “It’s totally uncalled for and people need to be aware that we are on the road and that we belong there.”
Babin said the annual rides have been successful each year.
“The only thing that really put a damper on it is the weather,” he said. “In recent years we have had some really windy and rainy days and we had a smaller group, of course, but it has always been continued on.”
Motorists are legally allowed to cross the yellow line in order to pass a cyclist, said Babin.
“I’m not sure if everyone is aware of that, but it wouldn’t hurt to be more aware of it,” he said. “The best thing is just to slow down, stay behind the cyclist until it’s safe to pass.”
The Ride of Silence is a worldwide event. Chris Phelan organized the first-ever ride in Dallas, Texas, in 2003 after cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and killed.
Lonnie Jones organized Cape Breton’s first the Ride of Silence six years ago. Vic Gouthro is currently running the annual event.
For more information about the Ride of Silence in Cape Breton, visit www.velocapebreton.ca.