Oak Park and River Forest residents will be hitting the road to remember those doing what they loved — cycling.
River Forest resident Bill Watson will be hosting an Oak Park version of the national Ride of Silence event May 18, when bicyclists take to the streets to memorialize those killed in accidents, and to promote safety and awareness. This will be the first Oak Park or River Forest version of Ride of Silence, which started in Dallas in 2003 after a cyclist was killed in a collision with a school bus.
Watson said he, along with the Oak Park Cyclist Club, became interested because of the continuing clash between cyclists and drivers. He said it is vital for cyclists to be out as a group.
“It’s important to have a voice,” he said.
The movement became a national event the following year and expanded overseas in 2005. Per tradition, cyclists ride in complete silence on a set route, with some larger locations boasting thousands of participants, according to the group.
So far, Watson only has a handful of participants, but it is the first event and he hopes it will expand in upcoming years as Oak Park and River Forest residents become more aware of the effort.
Oak Pak has a heavy cycling presence — village officials have been trying to boost the number of bike lanes and the executive director of the largest cycling advocacy group in the state, Ron Burke of the Active Transportation Alliance, lives in Oak Park.
Oak Park is not as hazardous for cyclists as other areas. In Chicago, “ghost bikes”, a solid white bicycle chained to a post near a fatal accident, are relatively common. Oak Park Fire Chief Tom Ebson said he cannot recall an Oak Park cyclist killed in a vehicle accident, but said collisions resulting in injuries do happen from time to time.
Despite Oak Park’s safe record for cyclists, Watson still thinks there is more work to be done to raise awareness and safety.
“Some (drivers) still have that mindset, they just aren’t aware that there are other users on the road,” he said.
The riders will meet at 7 p.m. at Lake Street and Oak Park Avenue and will begin at 7:15 p.m. on a yet-to-be-determined route. It is one of nine Ride of Silence events in the Chicago area, including Evanston, Downers Grove, Joliet, Arlington Heights and other suburbs.
