Four Recent Crashes Remind Us Of Reasons To Ride In Silence Tonight

As we prepare for tonight's Ride of Silence, we regret and are mindful of four crashes in the past few days that have killed or injured bicyclists and pedestrians.

• On Sunday, a child riding a bicycle in Royersford was struck by a vehicle and sustained multiple injuries.
• On Monday, a vehicle struck a pedestrian in Manayunk before hitting a telephone pole and flipping.  The pedestrian's injuries were reported as non-life threatening.  The driver's injuries were unknown.
• On Tuesday, a high school student was struck by a car and killed in front of Archbishop Ryan High School in North Philly.
• On Tuesday a man was struck and killed by a vehicle on Roosevelt Blvd near Bustleton.

We are all pedestrians at some point, and all of us are either drivers and bicyclists, or have loved ones who are.  The most recent NHTSA data on bicycle-vehicle crashes, for 2009, reported 626 fatal crashes.  There can never be enough reminders that we all share our roads, and that education and mindfulness on everyone's part helps prevent such tragedies.

There will be more than 200 Rides of Silence happening today worldwide.  The Ride honors cyclists who have been killed or injured by motor vehicles, and raises awareness of bicycle safety and cyclists' right to share the road.  All riders interested in joining Philadelphia's Ride of Silence should meet at the Art Museum steps at 6:45 pm tonight.  Wear a helmet and prepare for rain.  For more information about the ongoing Ride of Silence movement, visit their website.