Ride of Silence...

History

A little history of this ride and how it came to be....

The 2003 Ride of Silence™ at White Rock Lake in Dallas drew 1,000 cyclists through word of mouth and email communication over a period of only ten days. There was no registration and no fees. Local media reported the ride to be incredibly moving as these cyclists rode in silence, occasionally wiping away a tear or patting a friend on the back.


Learn a little about the athlete Larry was in this Dallas Morning News from August, 2002 here.


Chris Phelan, a friend of Mr. Schwartz and the person responsible for starting this initiative, thought the ride was a one-time event. However, as word got out other cyclists began to contact him with a desire to do the same thing in their own communities.  Read Chris' report from the first ride here.


Time Line


2003

May 4 Larry Schwartz is killed by a school bus mirror

May 8 Funeral for Larry and concept of idea

May 11 sent out emails

May 21 first Ride Of Silence, one-time-only event in Dallas, 1,000 attend.  First ride report here.

 

2004

January: Sent out emails

May 19: Ch. 8 Susanne Vega day of interview, Dallas has 2,500, 50 locations from Honolulu to Montreal

 

2005

Feb 18 board created; first meeting

Dallas Morning News story, Ch. 8 Susanne Vega day of interview, new location at WR Lake (1 mile north from old location)

May 18: 2,500 attend Dallas, 120+ sites total (8 countries), FIRST Dallas Mayoral proclamation RofS day

 

2006

May 17: 13 sites in Texas, 25 in Michigan (48 of 50 states), 223+ total

Gail Spann takes over Dallas site; video taped by Michael Friedoff; bag pipes play Amazing Grace at start; 2nd Mayoral proclamation RofS day; Andy Clark, Elizabeth Preston, Preston Tyree in attendance; approximately 3,000 attend

 

2007

May 16: 272 cities, 50 states, 15 countries (Antarctica, Aruba, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Cyprus, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Republic of South Africa, and the United States), 6 continents

Dallas: Again bag pipes play Amazing Grace at the beginning, and a bugler plays taps at the end. A letter from Governor Rick Perry is read. Approximately 2,000 attend.  KEOM and JACK-FM mention the ride on their station (click here to listen to a Jack FM promo for the ride).


2008

May 21:  7,925 riders total (104 events reporting), 296 cities, 50 states, 18 countries (Antarctica, Argentina, Australia (8 locations), Bolivia, Brazil (2 locations), British Virgin Isles, Canada (8 locations), Caribbean (Aruba), China (2 locations), Costa Rica, Cyprus, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico (4 locations), New Zealand, Republic of Panama and Spain (8 locations) and the United States). The full 2008 report can be read here