Sample Press Release for the "Ride of Silence", May 18th, 2005

The Missouri Bicycle Federation encourages local clubs, groups, and individuals to organize a local "Ride of Silence" to bring awareness of bicyclists and pedestrians sharing the roadway with motorists in Missouri.

Below is a sample press release you may use with your local press:

Press Release

www.rideofsilence.org

[local] contact: [insert local contact info: name, address, email, phone]

Who: Cyclists especially, but also runners, and others who legally share the road

What: The Ride Of Silence

When: Wednesday, May 18, 2004, 7pm

Where: [insert info about where local ride will start/end]

Where (some of the 2004 locations): Kansas City, MO ; Springfield, MO ; St. Louis, MO ; Flagstaff and Phoenix, AZ ; Irvine, CA ; Santa Rosa, CA - Corporate Center ; San Diego, CA ; Los Angeles, CA Two rides ; Modesto, CA ; Boulder, CO - Boulder Reservoir ; Golden, CO ; Hartford, CT ; Valdosta, GA. ; Hawaii ; Rockford, IL Alpine Park ; Fitchburg, MA - Princeton Road off Rte. 2 ; Ann Arbor, MI ; Detroit, MI ; Missoula, MT ; Ashville, NC ; Charlotte, NC ; Las Vegas, NV ; Columbus, OH ; Oklahoma City, OK ; Stillwater, OK ; Tulsa, OK Riverside Drive ; Pittsburg, PA ; Memphis, TN ; Murfreesboro, TN ; Nashville, TN ; Austin, TX ; Conroe, TX ; Dallas, TX White Rock Lake ; Ft. Worth Texas Motorspeedway ; Houston, TX downtown ; Killeen, TX ; San Antonio, TX past the Alamo ; St. George, Utah ; Milwaukee/Madison, WI ; Montreal, Canada two locations ; Ontario, Canada ; Ottawa, Canada ; Sherbrooke, Quebec ; Munich, Germany

Why: to mourn those cyclists already killed by motorists

to raise awareness (among motorists, police, and city officials) of cyclists on the road

to have motorists know we only want to share the road we ride on

to show that cyclists are not going away


THE RIDE OF SILENCE WILL NOT BE QUIET

On May 18, at 7 PM around the country, cyclists will take to the roads in a silent protest of what they call, carnage, taking place on the streets. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public doesn't seem aware they are there. The Dallas, Texas area is known throughout the country as being hostile toward cyclists, as evidenced of cyclists recent deaths and injuries due to motorists.

Chris Phelan organized the first Ride Of Silence in Dallas last May after endurance cyclists Larry Schwartz was killed by a bus mirror on an empty road.

The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph and remain silent during the ride.

The ride hopes to raise cycling awareness during bike safety month to motorists, police, and city officials. The ride is also a chance to mourn, in funeral procession style, those who have already been killed. The ride also requests black arm bands be worn, red if you have had a bike/motor vehicle accident.

Phelan is looking for as many cyclists are possible to join him at White Rock Lake in Dallas, or one of the other 35 locations in the US and Canada, including locations in Kansas City, St. Louis, and Springfield, MO. People can also be listed as endorsing the ride without financial obligation or responsibility.

He can be reached at coachphelan@sbcglobal.net

The web site is www.rideofsilence.org

[insert info about local contact]