Ride of Silence Report: May 21, 2008 7:00 p.m.
Organization: Gaston's third participation in this event was
organized by Gaston County Cyclist Doc Bradshaw. The ride was a slow-paced
procession of cyclists riding single file.
Purpose: The ride was in tribute & in remembrance of those riders that have been killed in motor vehicle accidents, and to raise awareness to the importance of sharing the road.
2008 marked the sixth year of this international event's existence,
& the third year of Gaston County's participation.
Route & Ride Pace: 7.5 miles, which took approximately 43 minutes to
complete. Riders proceeded in single file.
Roads Traveled: Start: Gaston County
Courthouse, Marietta St. Gastonia, NC. Right onto Marietta, Left onto Long (changed
name to Ozark), Right onto New Hope, Left onto Court, Right at Emergency Entrance to
Hospital, Turned at circle, Right onto Court, Right onto Cox, Right onto Aberdeen, merged
onto Franklin, Right onto Marietta, Left at Gaston County Courthouse.
Support & City Approval: Thanks to Rob Helton, a member
of the GCC and Captain in the Gastonia City Police for arranging the
fantastic support for our event. Ride organizer Doc Bradshaw obtained a parade permit
beforehand, which was approved by the appropriate authorities.
Note from Organizer Doc Bradshaw: We had
somewhere between 50 and 60 riders for the RoS. We had good police support, great weather
and some media coverage. Rob Helton had us a full contingent of police escort
including a couple of sheriff's deputies, two motorcycle cops, several GPD cruisers and at
least one State Trooper. Jay Beam and Tommy Jones rode in the lead and kept a good pace.
Special thanks to Erin Cockfield, Ben's daughter, who played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes
as we left the courthouse parking lot.
Cost: There was no fee, nor was the ride a fund-raiser. Strictly
speaking, the ride was not a protest. Our purpose was to honor the fallen, and to
encourage motorists and cyclists to share the road.
Participants: 50 - 60 riders participated in the procession, similar to
2007.
For more information about the national movement of this event, see www.rideofsilence.com .