Ride of Silence Event will honor cyclists who were injured or killed in Salem

Cyclists in Salem are encouraged to honor cyclists on Wednesday evening, who have injured or killed cycling bikes on Salem's streets and beyond.

The annual trip of silence takes place all over the world and begins on May 21 at 7 p.m. in Salem, according to a press release from Salem Bike Vision. The participants meet at 6 p.m. on the Red Lot in 1128 Marion Street ne before the 8-mile bike tour to tell stories about people who knew they were injured or killed during cycling collisions.

It is a personal thing for the former city council of Salem, Virginia Stapleton, a co -founder of Salem Bike Vision.

Stapleton is currently recovering from a bicycle accident on May 3, which gave her a concussion and a broken collarbone after she had almost hit an SUV that turned into an intersection and cut it off, she said.

“I was really happy that I was wearing my helmet. I have many flashbacks, and the sound of the helmet that meets the sidewalk is really anchored in my body,” Stapleton told Salem in an interview. “I won't go without a helmet, that's sure.”

Stapleton told the incident in a recently carried out episode of the demo brat podcast, which it organized together. She drove home after having ran her bike with her family in Minto-Brown Island Park. Stapleton said that the SUV had withdrawn in front of her when she approached the intersection of Union and High Streets in the city center.

“We entered the intersection and I mean, not two seconds later, I stared at the broad side of his SUV,” said stacked tone in the podcast. “My back wheel came up from the floor and then I turned and my helmet hit the sidewalk … my head was about two feet from his rear tire.”

Stapleton was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and said Salem reporter that her full recovery could take up to eight weeks.

She said that the bike tour on Wednesday was to recognize people who have no other choice than to drive on Salem's roads with their bicycles.

“I think of the people who ride bike because they have to. These are probably the people who won't be there,” said Stapleton in an interview.

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that 1,116 cyclists were killed all over the country, according to the press release.

In Salem, two cyclists were killed in accidents in 2024. This year this year was the deadliest year for Salem's streets in at least one decade with 25 fatal accidents.

The event is organized by Salem Bicycle Club and Salem Bike Vision and is part of a month with events for the Salem Bike Month.

Details on the route on Wednesday are available online.

Contact the reporter Joe Siss: [email protected] or 503-335-7790.

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