Ride of Silence

[Arwen's Mom]

Learn more about the Ride of Silence here:
http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php

I am hosting one in the central Jersey area.
Wednesday May 18. Ride starts promptly at 7pm, but BE THERE EARLY!
I am asking people to show by 6pm to sign in etc.

please wear a black ribbon or fabric armband to honor those that have fallen. If you yourself have been injured by a vehicle while riding your bike, please wear a red armband ALSO.

Raindate will be the following Saturday May 21


The route I have planned out is short, only about 6.5 miles, starting in Milltown.
Snacks and water will be provided at the end of the ride

It is NOT a loop so riders will need to either ride back to the start or arrange their own shuttle. If anyone is willing to assist with shuttle service for any very young/old/beginner riders that may attend, that would be mega-swell.



Thanks

 

[rick81721]

Learn more about the Ride of Silence here:
http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php

I plan on hosting one in the central Jersey area.
But I need help organizing it.

The types of things I need help with include:

• 2 support vehicles/drivers. Someone to drive with the ride banner displayed on the vehicle, and the other to be waiting at the end point with snacks and water
• contacting the news media people about the event to cover it, newspapers, local tv if any, etc
• Promoting it on social media, like facebook and local bike clubs
  
• funds to help pay for getting the banner and posters made
• help distributing posters/fliers
• additional funds to pay for permits, snacks, etc

I will be contacting some local businesses to donate snacks/water.

If anyone can assist with any of this, please contact me.

The route I have planned out is about 8 miles. It is NOT a loop so riders will need to either ride back to the start or arrange their own shuttle. If anyone is willing to assist with shuttle service for any very young/old/beginner riders that may attend, that would be mega-swell.

The planned route starts in Milltown, goes through East Brunswick, then Spotswood, and ends in Monroe. I had thought about a "loop" ride to make getting back easier, but I decided on this loop instead as it offers more visibility to more towns. And thats what I want, to get the word out to more drivers.

Thanks

@KStwenty1 and I did this last year in Franklin twp, NJ. Likely they will do it again as their mayor is a triathlete and organized it last year.

 

[Arwen's Mom]

@KStwenty1 and I did this last year in Franklin twp, NJ. Likely they will do it again as their mayor is a triathlete and organized it last year.

Thats nice, the more rides and locations the better
But does this mean you arent going to volunteer to help with mine? heavy sigh.

 

[rick81721]

Thats nice, the more rides and locations the better
But does this mean you arent going to volunteer to help with mine? heavy sigh.

I would talk to local officials asap. @davidcarson48 can better answer but I don't think you can slap a sign on cars and go out and disrupt traffic without police involvement. We had police escort front and back.

 

[Carson]

Agreed notification is huge. If you will be blocking traffic lanes with a support vehicle or two, then yes, it probably requires permits, insurance, maybe even a police vehicle. But it may vary by town. Maybe you can contact someone who has organized it in the past in another location for guidance and tips. Good luck!

 

[rick81721]

Thats nice, the more rides and locations the better
But does this mean you arent going to volunteer to help with mine? heavy sigh.

Plan B you may want to consider promoting/attending the one in Franklin. It is also "central NJ" and one large group may be more impactful (more press, etc) than several small ones

 

[Arwen's Mom]

Thanks for your tips, but I have already been in contact with the RofS people and some letter to officials have already gone out. People who travel in the area where I plan of doing this may never go to Franklin. Spreading it out to more locations gets more exposure. I am fully aware you cant disrupt traffic without escort. I contacted RofS when I first THOUGHT of doing this. It was their suggestion I ask for help with organizing and potential costs.

Frankly with the amount of roadies on here, I am surprised this hasnt had a better response so far. Disappointed.

 

[Arwen's Mom]

Check this out
http://www.rideofsilence.org/campaign-roar.php

It was stated to me that no one watching the ride really knows whats going on.
That is why I decided to have a support vehicle with banners, so drivers know.

I hear so many of you complain about drivers (refer to @Mumonkan in the race thread), well here is a real way to show them we belong on the roads, and to honor those that have fallen due to drivers.
Not only do drivers need to be made more aware, but maybe stiffer penalties to those that ignore the laws or just drive like they own the roads.

We dont need one big ride in one location, we need rides in many locations so drivers all over see and learn.

So to update, I have my support vehicles.
I could still use help in the other areas I listed.

 

[KStwenty1]

Learn more about the Ride of Silence here:
http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php

I plan on hosting one in the central Jersey area.
But I need help organizing it.

The types of things I need help with include:

• 2 support vehicles/drivers. Someone to drive with the ride banner displayed on the vehicle, and the other to be waiting at the end point with snacks and water
• contacting the news media people about the event to cover it, newspapers, local tv if any, etc
• Promoting it on social media, like facebook and local bike clubs
  
• funds to help pay for getting the banner and posters made
• help distributing posters/fliers
• additional funds to pay for permits, snacks, etc

I will be contacting some local businesses to donate snacks/water.

If anyone can assist with any of this, please contact me.

The route I have planned out is about 8 miles. It is NOT a loop so riders will need to either ride back to the start or arrange their own shuttle. If anyone is willing to assist with shuttle service for any very young/old/beginner riders that may attend, that would be mega-swell.

The planned route starts in Milltown, goes through East Brunswick, then Spotswood, and ends in Monroe. I had thought about a "loop" ride to make getting back easier, but I decided on this loop instead as it offers more visibility to more towns. And thats what I want, to get the word out to more drivers.

Thanks

I agree the more events the better. Keep me posted about your ride/date.

@KStwenty1 and I did this last year in Franklin twp, NJ. Likely they will do it again as their mayor is a triathlete and organized it last year.

 

[Arwen's Mom]

I agree the more events the better. Keep me posted about your ride/date.

Thanks! I appreciate that.
The rides are always on the 3rd wednesday of May
So May 18
with a rain date of the following Saturday, May 21.
Official start time is 7pm, but I am asking people to start showing by 6pm to sign in and put on armbands
We wear black armbands to honor those that have fallen and red armbands for those injured.

Start location is planned to be near the Milltown Home Depot

 

[KenS]

I met Debbie and Ian from RoS this weekend at the NJ Bike Walk Summit. Great people! This is a wonderful event and worthy of our support. Thanks for setting this up Jill.

I will never forget the friends, acquaintances and strangers I have heard about who lost their lives doing this thing we all love so much.

 

[Arwen's Mom]

I have someone lined up to be my "sweep" for the ride, but they may have a possible conflict that popped up.
Sooooo, I need a strong rider to follow. Here's the thing, you gotta pull a tagalong that has been slightly modified to carry our banner. Its not too heavy (the actual signs are very light) and the ride is short. The ride is on a Wednesday night, BUT in case of rain, you have to be willing to do the raindate which is the following Saturday. Could use a good midpack rider too.

 

[Arwen's Mom]

I have heard a few people say they have participated in these rides in the past, but the comment was made that no one (the drivers) who SEES the ride know what is going on. That is why I had banners made. So when drivers pass, they now know WHY we are riding. Originally wanted big ones on a vehicle, but with the lack of support/help I had to go with smaller ones that could be pulled by a cyclist.

Could REALLY use a backup volunteer.

 

[Patrick]

Somebody help JM out here - I can't make the ride because my Dad arrives from florida, and that is the only
night we can get together with the family...

I've ridden the route, and there is enough shoulder and bike path to navigate it safely, even if the group grows
to 25. there is one left turn across traffic with a light, and one without, but that turn has a lane, and
seems that there are cars turning to help protect. Ride leader just needs to stop traffic coming the other way.

A ton of work has been put into making this happen, so you'll just need to show up and ride.

ps - i previewed the ride on my mtb set up SS. so anyone can do this.

 

[rick81721]

I'd go if it was closer - I'll probably do the one in Somerset again - I can ride there and back from home. Plus we get police escort

 

[mike_243]

So far in to sweep...

 

[The Kalmyk]

This will never be on my list.... I talk aaaalot

 

[JoeLee]

I hope this goes great! I wish I could make it but I work weekday evenings

 

[Arwen's Mom]

a HUGE shout out and HUGS o'plenty to @mike_243 for taking a half day off work, and driving an ungodly distance to do a short ride for a good cause. Besides being a trusted sweep, he pulled my little banner trailer.

We had a small group, 11 people. But the best was while The Hubby and I were setting up, someone drove up and thanked us for doing the ride. Then he explained how 30 years ago he had been hit. And it left him partially paralyzed. So he was thankful that we were trying to promote some awareness to drivers about sharing the road.

I will be uploading some photos and video later. I actually had 2 fellas do some video and such for me, but wont get it till the weekend....oooh the suspense

So far all I have are photos of the shirt I made for the ride, and my posters I hung at work and the one I hung at our end location thanking participants and supporters, and my banner trailer. Even though this was a road ride, I want to thank JORBA too. You are great people to devote so much time to promote biking. THANKS!

And thank you to Chris S. Who was my inspiration to do this ride.

 

[jdog]

Nice work!