Team Columbia-Highroad men’s and women’s teams will wear blue ribbons at the Giro d’Italia and Tour de l’Aude on May 20th to commemorate the Ride of Silence. Columbia-Highroad riders will wear the ribbons to help raise global awareness of road safety.
Michael Barry, a veteran Columbia-Highroad rider from Canada, will participate as the world watches his team continue to take on the 21-stage Giro d’Italia. “I have been around cycling my entire life. It’s a special community of people from all around the world, and it feels great to do something to help raise awareness of the importance of vehicles and cyclists safely sharing the road.” The complete Columbia-Highroad Giro squad includes Michael Barry (Can), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor), Mark Cavendish (GB), Thomas Lovkvist (Swe), Marco Pinotti (Ita), Morris Possoni (Ita), Mark Renshaw (Aus), Michael Rogers (Aus), and Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Byl). The women’s team at De L’Aude include Kate Bates (Aus), Chantal Beltman (Hol), Emilia Fahlin (Den), Luise Keller (Ger), Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Ger), Linda Villumsen (Den).
Cyclist Eric Little approached the team to ask their support following a near fatal accident with a car. “I wanted to use my example to speak up for those who can no longer speak out about road safety. Thousands of cyclists are injured or killed each year by careless drivers; it’s possible for both groups to use the roads without devastating families.”
Asked why he approached the pro team he said, “I wanted to create more awareness for all those injured or killed by drivers and I thought, what better way than to reach out through cyclists everyone universally respects?”
The Ride of Silence is a free, world-wide, slow-speed memorial to commemorate all cyclists injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents. The ride begins at 7:00 pm local time with the goal of raising awareness that cyclists also use the roads and to encourage drivers to share the roads with consideration.
Ride of Silence founder Chris Phelan said, "I began the Ride of Silence to show that each cyclist is a member of a larger community. We're doctors, lawyers, co-workers, husbands, wives and parents. Each time a cyclist is injured or, even worse, killed, that sends a ripple through the community. Each accident hurts more than just one individual. The ride is held in silence to reflect that loss. Cyclists are part of the fabric of every community and the benefits of cycling, such as better health and reduced pollution, should make it a priority for more people everywhere."
The sponsorless ride is organized each year by volunteers. The 2008 ride was held at more than 300 locations, in 18 countries, on all 7 continents. First held 2003, the ride was organized as a one-time event. But the Ride of Silence touched many and found universal support. It is now an annual event held on May 20th.
For more information on the Ride of Silence, visit the web site at:
http://www.rideofsilence.org. 