The organizers claim that over 1500 people took part of the memorial ride. The people were dressed in light colored clothes and they rode the 30 kilometer loop around the south-central part of the city. A minute silence was held at the Rotes Rathaus, seat of the Berlin City Senate, in memory of the victims of fatal bike accidents. The event also aims to raise awareness amongst motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to use the public roadways.

The ‘Ride of Silence’ is a global event where people from all around the world gather together to ride slowly, on the roads of the city. The traffic rules are followed, helmets are worn and the riders remain silent during the ride. The whole event is free and there are no national sponsors involved. The first ‘Ride of Silence’ was held in 2003, when Chris Phelan organized one in Dallas, USA after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed.

This event is an example of global concerns over traffic safety and the growing numbers of cyclists. For example, in Berlin over 50 000 people commute to and from work by bike, daily. The concern that everybody shares in the biking community is the infrastructure that is lagging behind the sheer volume of cyclists. Also, there is a need for a change in driving education and culture, a need to realise that everyone on the road should be taken into account.

• References: http://www.thelocal.de/20160519/ride-of-silence-berlin-accident-victims
• References: http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php