Cyclists at Temecula Ride of Silence

The following is a press release for Ride of Silence:

Cyclists participating in the Seventh Annual Temecula Ride of Silence Wednesday (May 15, 2013) paid special tribute to Randy Pruett, a local school teacher and active member of a cycling club who lost his life in a bicycle accident last year.  

Pruett’s family attended the Ride of Silence, part of a worldwide event held in more than 350 cities to honor cyclists killed or injured on the road and to raise awareness about cycling safety issues.  

Laura Pruett, his widow, read “The Cyclists’ Prayer” by Fr. Amado Picardal, which ends: “As we enjoy each other's company, as we feel we could bike forever, may we continue biking even as we grow old, and up to the day we die, and may you allow us to continue biking in heaven, forever and ever, Amen!”  

The Ride of Silence is held the second Wednesday of May each year to honor the hundreds of cyclists killed on the road and thousands more injured. The Ride of Silence began in 2003 in Texas after cyclist Larry Schwartz was killed by a passing school bus.

 It has been held each year in Temecula since 2007.   Participants wear black arm bands and attach lights to their bicycles as they ride in the somber memorial. The arm bands bear names of cyclists whose names appear on the national Ride of Silence memorial board.

The ride is silent, giving participant’s time to reflect on the loss of fellow cyclists, many of them friends and family members.   The event typically draws between 80-100 riders. Cyclists range in age from their teens to senior citizens, beginners to members of local cycling clubs.  

There are no entry fees or costs. No advertising is accepted. Photos from the event are available at www.rideofsilence.org and at Temecula Ride of Silence on Facebook.  

The worldwide event also helps raise awareness of cyclists’ presence on the road among motorists, police and community leaders. More information on the Ride of Silence can be found at  www.rideofsilence.org.