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Transportation Wed May 19 2010
Ride of Silence Roars Wednesday Night
Bicycle advocates will gather this evening (6:30 p.m.) at the Eternal Flame in Daley Plaza for the annual Ride of Silence, a silent cycling procession honoring bicyclists who have been injured or killed on Chicago streets. The Ride of Silence's route passes by several eerie ghost bikes -- bike fixtures painted white and permanently displayed near the intersection where cyclists have been killed. The bikes usually include the name of and date of the bicyclist killed. This year's route ends at North Damen and West Wellington Avenues, which is the location of Liza Whitacre's ghost bike. Whitacre, 20, was killed in late October after falling from her bicycle and being run over by a truck.
Although Chicago is blessed with wide streets, several bike lanes and an 18-mile lakefront path, the city has much to learn from other bike-friendly cities such as Portland, Amsterdam and Boulder. Many advocates argue that in order for cities to become safer bicycle havens, local officials should focus on progressive planning and stricter laws penalizing drivers who endanger the lives of bicyclists.
T.C. O'Rourke / May 19, 2010 7:57 AM
Thanks for covering this.