Honoring those who have lost their lives while cycling. A worldwide event is set to take place next week, and Tucson is taking part.
The Ride of Silence is an international event that started in 2003. Tucson began participating a few years after. Next week will be the city's 15th year participating in the ride.
"The cyclists are asked to stay silent during the ride, so it's very somber. They ride slowly just a few miles. And its just to bring awareness to the cycling community and to our motorists as well," said Doug Bauman, a board member for Cycling Advocates for Southern Arizona
May is national bike month and the ride of silence takes place on the third Wednesday of May every year. The big take away message from the annual ride to motorists, "You know, we actually have all the same rules as they do as rights of the road, and please respect us," said Bauman.
Hundreds of cyclists are known to ride in this event to honor those who have been killed or injured in crashes with motorized vehicles.
"The cyclists on the roads, they're brothers, they're sisters, they're fathers, they're grandparents, they're kids, they're our neighbors, they're our doctors. You know, they are all representative of our community and we just want to get to our destination safely," said Bauman.
Tucson's silent ride is on Wednesday, May 15, and starts at Reid Park at 6pm.
