Even during a ride of silence, the respect spoke volumes.
As 15 bicyclists silently traveled the streets of Seymour for an hour Wednesday night, they were escorted by a Burkholder Funeral Chapel hearse and a Seymour Fire Department firetruck.
The hearse was enough for motorcycles and vehicles to either pull off or stop in the middle of the road. The firetruck with lights flashing but siren silent blocked intersections so the bicyclists could keep moving forward in a safe manner.
One man on his riding lawnmower even paused his work as the procession passed his home.
Another moving moment happened toward the end of the ride when nearly 20 people outside an ice cream shop stopped what they were doing and paid attention as the bicyclists and their escorts passed by.
“It always amazes me at the number of people and even the cars that will stop along our route to pay their respect,” said Vicki Otto, a member of the Jackson County Bicycle Club who along with her husband, Steve, organized the Ride of Silence in Seymour.
“I’m sure they’re wondering, ‘What’s going on? Is it a funeral?'” she said. “Let them wonder. Maybe they’ll remember and think about it the next time they are passing a bicyclist. Maybe they’ll allow a little extra room or maybe they will decide to be patient and just travel behind for a few minutes. Maybe they’ll change their minds about turning in front of a bicyclist.”
While the ride has occurred in Seymour since 2011, it has been a worldwide event since 2003. Ride of Silence started in Texas after an endurance cyclist was hit by a mirror of a passing bus and died.
“Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor bicyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways,” Vicki said in describing the purpose of the event. “Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn’t aware of these rides and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.”
Participants are asked to follow the rules of the road and remain silent during each ride, which is conducted in May during National Bike Month.
In 2020, rides occurred in 458 locations worldwide, including 47 states, 17 countries and six continents.
Riders who have been injured at some point are given a survivor band to put on their bike during the ride.
Kendra Zumhingst of Seymour had one on the handlebar of her bicycle during Wednesday’s ride. About seven years ago, a newspaper delivery driver turned a corner too sharp and clipped Zumhingst, knocking her off of her bicycle. She also has a friend who was run over by a bus on a bicycle in Michigan.
“We have the same right to be on the road,” Zumhingst said. “We’re still within our right to be on a bicycle. Share the road.”
Vicki said she and her husband don’t know anyone personally who has been killed in a bicycle accident, but they know of several who have been injured or had close calls. Steve himself has twice had encounters with moving vehicles on his bicycle.
The Ottos hope the Ride of Silence makes motorists pay more attention.
“It’s for the awareness, just that we are out here,” Steve said.
“It’s amazing to me the number of people that will stand and stop and stare and think it’s a funeral,” Vicki said. “What we’re just kind of hoping is that they might think the same thing when they see somebody out on a bicycle. For a lot of us, this is the most memorable ride we’ll have all year. It just touches your heart and makes you stop and think.”
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For information, visit rideofsilence.org.
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