Yesterday evening there was lovely weather and scenery for a sad and solemn, but ultimately life-affirming bicycle event, the annual Chicago Ride of Silence. It's part of a global movement to call attention to importance of creating safer streets, and honor people who have been critically injured or fatally struck while riding bikes.
This year's route, which traveled to the city's Northwest Side, was particularly thought provoking. Riders visited three different locations where, at the same intersection, or only an eighth of a mile apart, two cyclists were injured or killed in separate crashes.
Downtown workers and residents met up at Queen's Landing, on the Lakefront Trail across DuSable Lake Shore Drive from Buckingham Fountain, then rode north on the shoreline to Dickens Greenway Plaza, the official start of the ride.There a crowd of perhaps 200 participants gathered.
At the plaza, the names of the five people who were killed while riding bikes on Chicago streets in roughly the last year were displayed. See the links below for Streetsblog articles about these cases.
- On October 23, 2023, an allegedly intoxicated car-driver fatally struck Donald Heggemann, 59, who was biking north at 5115 N. Damen Ave. in the Lincoln Square community area.
- On October 4, 2023, a sedan driver fatally struck Joshua Anleu Buendia, 16, as he biked through the intersection of Waveland and Long avenues in the Portage Park community.
- On June 24, 2023, a left-turning driver fatally struck Józef Strus, 67, who was riding a bike at 57th Street and Natchez Avenue in Garfield Ridge.
- On June 7, 2023, bike rider Ron Mendoza, 43, died from injuries sustained in a June 5 crash with a car driver at Wrightwood Avenue and Pulaski Road in Logan Square.
- On May 7, 2023, bike rider Rick Lomas was traveling south on California Avenue in Humboldt Park when he was fatally struck by a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix driver who left the scene.
The names of the many people fatally struck while walking in our city during that time were also listed.
Longtime Chicago ROS organizer Elizabeth Adamczyk, who was assisted in promoting the local 2024 event by the Active Transportation Alliance, gave some remarks before the group departed on the main ride. She said they would visit five crash sites and six white-painted "ghost bike" memorials for both recent victims, and a few who were struck years ago.
"And we honor Chicago cycling legend George Christensen who rode with us for the first time in 2023 and we trust he is with us in spirit now," Adamczyk said. Christensen, a close friend of Adamczyk, was fatally struck on a bike trip in South Carolina on April 22. There will also be a potluck picnic as a tribute to Christensen on Saturday, June 1 at 2 p.m. in Chicago's West Town community area – RSVP here for the address. Whether or not you can attend that event, you can sign an e-card in memory of Christensen here.
"We ride in silence – a universal language of respect for those not with us, in solidarity with all rides happening around the world – in over 14 countries and in 11 communities throughout Illinois," Adamczyk said. She concluded by reciting the Ride of Silence poem by Mike Murgas, as is done at every annual ride. It includes the couplet, "Tonight's ride is to make others aware /
The road is there for all to share".
With that, the hundreds of riders silently rolled out of the plaza onto Dickens Avenue. Here's a gallery of images from the ride.
The Chicago Ride of Silence ended at a sad location, Kilbourn and Milwaukee avenues in the Old Irving Park neighborhood. Carla Aiello and Nick Parlington were both struck and killed on bikes nearby, with only about two and a half years passing between the fatal crashes.
But Adamczyk gave some final remarks to end the ride on an optimistic note. "I hope this ride was enjoyable and memorable for you, and for all of those who we advocate for, for safer streets for all. That our loved ones did not die in vain, and that we don't have to keep visiting more ghost bikes and honoring more fallen cyclists year after year."
She invited participants to bicycle to the nearby Sleeping Village music venue and beer garden in Avondale for a post-ride social gathering. "Time to share stories about our loved ones. Time to share stories about the importance of this ride. Time to share stories about why we do this, and why we enjoy riding bikes."
Did you appreciate this post? Please consider making a tax-deductible donation.
