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Sixth Annual Las Vegas Ride of Silence a Grand Success
The sixth year of the Las Vegas Valley Bicycle Club organizing and taking part in the "International Ride of Silence" was a grand success here in Las Vegas. We had a turn out of forty cyclists which is nearly double over last year’s number of riders. I wish to thank Lisa Caterbone and her web site www.bikinglasvegas.com for support, advertizing, general assistance and getting her cycling group out for the ride. We did not receive the Clark County Coroner’s Report for the last twelve months in time for the ride. However, it is estimated that we did have another drop in cycling deaths due to motor vehicle accidents. Our continuing hope is that motorists will be even more aware of cyclists and that there will be even fewer deaths of cyclists to report next year. Although, a young teenage cyclist died as the result of a motor vehicle accident just eight days prior to the event.
With the help of Nick DiArchangel, who has many connections in the local media, we were able to get the ride posted on the local public television station KNPR and out to all of the local television and radio network stations. Our ride was covered by Fox Network Channel Five News, which featured us on the ten and eleven o’clock evening news broadcasts and again on two morning news segments the next day.
After a riders meeting, a short speech, and a moment of silence, we began our 16 mile street ride around the west side of Las Vegas. The evening was very mild with an extremely slight wind making it perfect cycling weather. Along the way we had any number of motorists blow their horns and say encouraging things to us in support of our ride. I want to thank all of our riders for coming out and helping us this year and encourage them to return and help us next year. The Las Vegas Valley Bicycle Club wants to thank our assisting ride leaders Richard Hulskamp and Lisa Caterbone. We also want to thank our SAG driver Don Hamby.
In addition, Lisa and I were interviewed by Becky Bosshart a writer for “Vegas Seven” magazine. The May 27th issue article is titled “Pedaling Perils”, Bike hits writer’s car; writer learns a lesson in biking safety. In the article we attempt to explain some of the basic bicycling rules and safety advice for riders and motorists. This was written as a result of author’s bike/auto accident and the media press release about the “Ride of Silence”. The photograph of Lisa and I, included in the article, was taken at the SR 159 Highway Red Rock Overlook at the Red Rock National Conservation Area located just a short distance outside of Las Vegas. This is a very picturesque and major cycling route in the Las Vegas valley used by thousands of local cyclists and visitors every week.
By James C. "Jim" Little, lvrodeoman1@aol.com
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