To be at the birth of an international movement

How many of us can say we have been at the birth of an international movement? How many of us have been honored parts of that movement? How many cyclists can we squeeze around White Rock Lake for this year's edition of an international movement?

In 2003 Chris Phelan was upset by the senseless death of his friend and fellow endurance athlete Larry Schwartz, who was killed when he was hit in the head by the mirror of a passing bus out in rural Collin County. He held a memorial ride for his friend around White Rock Lake, but before the ride could take place 2 more cyclists were killed on the roads around Dallas and 2 more severely injured, and they were remembered along with Larry. I was there at the ride but for the life of me I can't remember their names, but I remember the wrecks. One was caught in a pavement defect in eastern Dallas County and thrown to the road, and one was hit from behind by an uninsured driver who was exceeding the speed limit in an office park in the northern outskirts of Plano, along with one of the injured cyclists. Since then I have read and reported on so many dead and injured cyclists that names become a blur, and even situations are becoming harder and harder for me to keep separate.

You can take part in an international movement this Wednesday, May 20th at White Rock Lake. The ride will form up on the west side of the lake on W. Lawther between Branchfield Dr and Fisher Road. Please park elsewhere and bicycle over.This will be a solemn ride, at 12 MPH with no chatter and hand signals to alert riders of road hazards, so if your group ride skills are a little hazy brush up before Wednesday. The ride will consist of a 2 up column for as much road as it takes for 800-1000 or more bicycles. The rides I have been on all had police escort and protection at intersections like a funeral procession, but I can't guarantee that will happen this year. There will be no t-shirt, no fee to ride, nor any rest areas. Riders should wear a black armband if they directly knew anyone killed while riding, and a red armband if they had been injured while riding.

I look forward to meeting my readers there, but no talking during the ride.