International Ride of Silence is set for May 15 in honor of victims of traffic violence

Texas remains one of the most dangerous states for people being killed in traffic crashes. In 2023, 105 people died while riding bicycles statewide. In response, the volunteer group Austin Ghost Bike Project installs white memorial bikes near the scenes of fatality crashes. The organization – along with Safe Streets Austin and Farm&City – is calling upon Austin, Travis County and Texas elected officials to reduce vehicular fatalities and serious injuries across the state to zero. All three groups urge government officials to:

1) Increase efforts to solve these and many other unresolved cold cases;
2) Increase the scope and speed of installing protected bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure; and
3) Commit to eliminating deaths and serious injuries on our roadways.

“Enough is enough,” said Adam Greenfield, advocacy director at Safe Streets Austin. “People should not be dying while moving around on Austin’s streets. It’s time for elected leaders at all levels to take the fight against the epidemic of vehicle-related deaths and serious injuries in Austin to the next level. We must take action to rapidly eliminate these tragedies on our streets.” The International Ride of Silence is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 15 at City Hall, where Austinites will join thousands of cyclists around the world to bike silently in honor of victims of traffic violence. Cyclists are welcome to join the short, slow and silent ride that will stop by several ghost bikes.