Annual ride to honor injured or killed cyclists planned for Hilton Head

An annual ride to honor those who were injured or killed while bicycling on public roadways will take place on Hilton Head Island on May 17.

The Hilton Head Island Ride of Silence will begin with a safety briefing and sign-in at 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Street Meet in the Port Royal Plaza Shopping Center on Mathews Drive, according to a release from Kickin’ Asphalt Bicycle Club, the event organizer.

“Our message is share the road for everyone’s safety,” said John Marcinowski, the 2017 Ride of Silence coordinator, and a member of the bicycle club and Hilton Head Island Bicycle Advisory Committee, in the release.

Helmets are mandatory for the ride, and lights are recommended along with a black armband. The first 50 riders to register will receive a free gift.

The nine-mile, police-escorted ride is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. with a member of the Savannah Pipes and Drums playing “Amazing Grace,” the release said. The ride will leave the Street Meet parking lot and head south on U.S. 278 at speeds of 10 mph to 12 mph, proceed to the stop light at Queens Way, and end back at Street Meet.

In 2003, the first Ride of Silence took place in Dallas in recognition of endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz, who died after being hit by the mirror of a passing bus. In 2016, there were 445 such rides in 50 states and 48 countries.

This story was originally published May 9, 2017 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Annual ride to honor injured or killed cyclists planned for Hilton Head."