A silent ride to honor others - Record-Searchlight

A silent ride to honor others
Record-Searchlight
Kathryn Silvia, a member of the Shasta Cascade Bicycle Coalition, plans to ride her recumbent in honor of these and other victims. It will be her second "Ride of Silence."

"I myself have been a victim of bicycle-motorist interaction and I've had a friend killed," said Silvia, 55.

Years ago, Silvia was knocked off her bike and fell 30 feet off a seawall and down a rock embankment in Miami when someone reached out and slapped her bottom.

And Silvia was mowed down at a Los Angeles intersection when she entered a street on a green light after making eye contact with the motorist and assuming she was seen. She was riding a friend's bike and had to replace it after it went under the car.

Silvia has lived 11 years in Redding after bicycling in many cities around the United States and the world. She says she has never seen such "blatant hostility" toward cyclists anywhere else.

"Some people here are just ignorant of the rules of the road," Silvia said. "They don't even feel we should be on the road. They don't understand we have a right to the road."

People have thrown beer cans, rocks and an apple at her from passing cars. Motorists have driven into her lane, swerved around her and cut her off, one time forcing her into the bushes. A few pickup drivers have downshifted as they pass her, so they belch clouds of thick exhaust at her, she said.

And sometimes motorists don't seem aware of her at all.

"The most dangerous thing is motorists don't seem to be paying attention anymore," Silvia said. "They are distracted."...

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for you guys, THE ride of silence

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