Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Ride of Silence on May 15, 2013, Pittsburgh



      Ride of Silence riders: 1. We have a 30% probability of thunderstorms tomorrow evening. I'll be there regardless. If it is safe to ride, we will ride. We may delay the start or shorten the ride if that makes sense. If the ride gets totally washed out, we will likely schedule a second ride at a later date. However. Let's assume we will be riding tomorrow night. If it is important, let's do it. Qualified by apply common sense if conditions seem unsafe to you. Rain is safe to ride in, we will avoid lighting. It is 70% unlikely a storm will hit at a bad time for us, so let's plan for that, and only change if actual conditions warrant. 
      2. At the bottom of this email we list of the victims of accidents while bicycling. 
      3. We didn't get an armband volunteer so you are mostly on your own for armbands. I have about 50 black armbands and 10 red ones recycled from previous years. If you are passionate, make your own. If you feel lucky, see if you get one of mine. A ride to honor, mourn, raise awareness, demonstrate safe riding, and show our strength 
      The Ride of Silence honors people injured or killed while riding bikes. 
      Ride of Silence Details Wednesday, May 15th 6:15-6:45pm: Gather for the ride at the dinosaur (corner of Forbes and Schenley Dr) at the museum in Oakland. Sign a waiver only to invoke liability insurance for the event (required by the national and local organizers). 6:45pm: Listen to stories from victims and their families about why this movement for safe streets is important. (Thanks to Bike Pittsburgh for arranging this) 7pm: Ride of Silence begins. The route will be a slow and easy 10 miles winding through the East End of Pittsburgh, rolling by several c crash sites to honor the victims, as well as passing several mayoral candidate offices. Between 8pm and 8:30pm the ride will conclude. Start location: Schenley Plaza in Oakland - at Dippy the Dinosaur Route:
      How We Ride in Pittsburgh Double file, side by side, keeping to a single lane, and to the right of the yellow line where it exists. Stop and wait at all red lights - we're a big group and will undoubtedly be breaking up and regrouping as we go along. If there is slower traffic in the lane, we'll just wait for it. Please bring bikes in good repair, as there will be no official mechanical support or transportation. Children aged 12 and under must have helmets on. This ride takes place on city streets, with potholes, surface hazards, motor vehicles and other cyclists riding in close proximity. Participants must use their own judgment and be responsible for their own safety. If at any time, you feel that you can no longer participate safely, please pull off the route and wait until the rest of the ride has passed. History and Expectations . On the third Wednesday of May around the world, bicyclists will take to the roads in a silent protest of the carnage taking place on the streets . Chris Phelan organized the first Ride Of Silence in Dallas in 2003 after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was killed by a passing bus mirror on an empty road . 
      The Ride of Silence is a free ride that asks its riders to ride at a slow pace and remain silent during the ride . The ride hopes to raise bicycling awareness during bike month to motorists, police, traffic engineers, insurance companies, and city officials. The ride is also a chance to honor and mourn, in funeral procession style, those who have already been killed and injured . The ride requests black arm bands be worn, red only if you have had a bike/motor vehicle crash. Helmets required; lights are mandatory for the ride home. There are no fees charged anyone to participate. Pittsburgh Ride of Silence Contact for 2013: Jim Logan jimlogan@verizon.net <mailto:%20jimlogan@verizon.net> <mailto:lwseaman@hotmail.com
      The Pittsburgh Ride of Silence is endorsed by endorsed by Western Pennsylvania Wheelmen, Pittsburgh Major Taylor Cycling Club, Allegheny Cycling Association, Flock of Cycles, Pittsburgh Masters Velo Club, and Bike Pittsburgh The endorsers and organizer are bearing no responsibility (financial or otherwise) for the ride. By endorsing it, we are simply stating we believe in the stated goals. Ride at your own risk. 
      Summary list of accident victims in Pittsburgh 2013 2013-03-13 
      Mjai, Liberty Ave at S Matilda Street, PGH, PA ... 2013-03-30 Chad Vida of Etna, Liberty Avenue, PGH, PA 2013-04-05 Rider down due to pothole, Brinton Road, PGH, PA 2013-04-22 Iain Engle, 8 year old, Reynolds & Lexington, PGH, PA 2012 2012-04-02 No name, 100-block of South Negley Avenue, PGH, PA 2012-04-25 No name, 48th and Butler Streets, PGH, PA 2012-05-13 Dan Yablonsky, Liberty Avenue and Ligonier Street, PGH, PA *2012-07-25 James Price, Penn Avenue just past Penfield Court, PGH, PA *2012-08-01 Anthony Green, 48, 7700 block of Penn Ave, PGH, PA 2012-08-01 No name, Intersection of Church Street and South Braddock Avenue, PGH, PA 2012-08-03 Police officer injured enforcing bicyclist safety 2012-08-10 No name, Armco Road, Butler Township, PA 2012-09-04 Dr. David Wood, retired Pitt Professor, Euclid Ave, PGH, PA 2012-09-20 JENNIFER SZWEDA JORDAN, Forbes Avenue & Dallas Avenue, PGH, PA 2012-09-28 No name, Boulevard of the Allies and Wood Street, PGH, PA 2001-10-02 No name, collision occurred near the intersection of Butler Street and Stanton Avenue, PGH, PA 2012-10-27 No name, Liberty Ave at the Herron Avenue Bridge, PGH, PA 2012-11-13 Nick Drombroski, Wilkins Avenue, PGH, PA 2012-11-14 No name, Sarah Street, PGH, PA These collisions reported without names per PPG project http://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/bikeAccidents <http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fnewsinteractive.post-gazette.c om%2FbikeAccidents&h=wAQGUTew7AQFKVYSZ4YpN0oqa_1ZvBQGBhBxb48B5eMb-6g&s=1> Names are not available. 2012 data from PG (article ran in July or August, so data ends there). Data includes both type of incidents when driver is at fault and when biker is at fault. 2012-07-22 SAW MILL RUN BL, PGH, PA 2012-07-19 FIFTH AV, , PGH, PA 2012-07-18 S MILLVALE AV, PGH, PA 2012-07-12 BROWNSVILLE RD, PGH, PA 2012-07-07 EAST CARSON ST, , PGH, PA 2012-07-05 KIRKPATRICK ST, PGH, PA 2012-06-26 ELLSWORTH AV, PGH, PA 2012-06-21 CENTRE AV, PGH, PA 2012-06-14 HOWE ST, PGH, PA 2012-06-14 PENN AV, PGH, PA 2012-06-11 BROWNSVILLE RD, PGH, PA 2012-06-08 CHAUTAUQUA CT, PGH, PA 2012-05-28 UNIVERSAL ST, PGH, PA 2012-05-24 LIBERTY AV, PGH, PA 2012-05-22 ALLEGHENY AV, PGH, PA 2012-05-22 SCHENLEY DR, PGH, PA 2012-05-21 E OHIO ST, PGH, PA 2012-05-18 ZULEMA ST, PGH, PA 2012-04-30 STRAWBERRY WY, PGH, PA 2012-04-15 BEECHWOOD BL, PGH, PA 2012-04-02 NEGLEY AV, PGH, PA 2012-04-01 BL OF THE ALLIES RD, PGH, PA 2012-03-20 PENN AV, PGH, PA 2012-03-20 TWENTYTHIRD ST, PGH, PA 2012-03-13 WADLOW ST, PGH, PA 2012-03-11 NORTH SHORE DR, PGH, PA 2012-03-11 WASHINGTON BL, PGH, PA 2012-03-08 BUTLER ST, PGH, PA 2012-03-07 EAST CARSON ST, PGH, PA 2012-03-02 FIRST AV, PGH, PA 2012-01-08 AIKEN AV, PGH, PA There are BikePGH map of self reported accidents/incidents http://map.bike-pgh.org/#c=crashSee More

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