Downers Grove Bicycle Club to host a ‘Ride of Silence’ in honor of club member
On Wednesday, May 15, the Downers Grove Bicycle Club will host a special community bike ride which will move silently through village streets.
The club’s annual Ride of Silence remembers club member George Christensen, 73, of Countryside who was killed on April 22, 2024, when struck by a tractor trailer during a cycling trip in South Carolina.
The ride also honors the memory of more than 1,200 cyclists killed in crashes in the United States each year. It will promote bicycling safety and raise awareness of state and national laws which specify that cyclists and drivers share the road.
The four-mile ride will begin at 6 p.m. at the Downers Grove Village Hall, Mackie Place and Curtiss Street, with remarks from club president Colin Burke and recitation of the official “Ride of Silence“ poem.
Riders will then proceed west on Maple Avenue to Main Street through downtown Downers Grove. Riders will then turn onto Grant Street, Douglas Avenue, and West Chicago Avenue before returning to the village hall via Main Street and Maple Avenue.
The Downers Grove Police Department will escort the riders to ensure safety. Riders are expected to remain silent for the entire route. Area residents who can ride four miles at a 10-mile-per-hour pace are invited to participate in the ride. All participants are required to wear bicycle helmets.
2024 marks the 20-second annual “Ride of Silence,” which is a global event observed in 40 U.S. states and 16 countries worldwide. The first Ride of Silence was held in 2003 in Dallas, Texas to remember cyclist Larry Schwartz who was killed when struck by the mirror of a passing school bus. The Downers Grove Bicycle Club has hosted an annual ride since 2009.
Since 2006, the Downers Grove Bicycle Club has worked to promote bicycling for transportation, recreation, and better health. Through its signature programs and events, the club offers rides for cyclists of all skill levels and deepens member connections through social events. The club promotes safe riding practices and encourages the expansion of cycling infrastructure in Downers Grove. Visit www.downersgrovebicycleclub.org to learn more about the club, bike rides, and membership.