A few pictures from today's Silent Ride hosted by the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition. In the first photo are friends and family of Ruben Hernandez. Although I feel it is okay to show the picture, they were quite specific about using their audio and names in reports. I'm posting these as a Wacco member, a cyclist and member of the community but choose leave their names out, for now.
In the last photo you can see the motorcycle officers who escorted and saw to the safety of more than 100 riders who rode silently, carefully observing the laws and rules of the road, for the roughly 2 miles from Administration Drive to Old Courthouse Square. They were not requested to be there, according to Sandra Lupien, of the Bike Coalition. I'm waiting on comment from SRPD and CHP to find out what measures were taken and why.
I'll say, I expected some level of honking or yelling and maybe it was the fuzz being present, but drivers seemed to do their best to drive respectfully past the line of riders. Shirlee Zane, DA Jill Ravich and Councilman Gary Wysocky were among the participants in the ride.
Special thanks to the So Co Bike Coalition for a short notice and yet well organized event to honor people that should be with friends and family right now and for a long time to come. It was Silent, and it was one of the events that makes me proud to live here.