TOLEDO, Ohio — The warmer temperatures mean an increase in two-wheeled vehicles out on the roads and data from the National Safety Council Injury Facts found bicycle-related deaths peak in the warmer months of the year.
To honor those who've been injured and those who have died while riding a bicycle on a public roadway, there's a silent ride to remind both cyclists and drivers about safety.
The Ride of Silence is an international event that happens across the U.S. on the third Wednesday in May at 7 p.m.
It's a free event open to all ages. Locally, Toledo and Bowling Green will be hosting the ride starting at 6:30 p.m. at the University of Toledo's Parking Lot 2 and at Bowling Green City Park.
Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments transportation planner Raj Nagisetty said while this is a hard and sad topic, it's important to stress the importance of those victims and their safety.
"In my own experience, I've had issues with drivers not paying attention to the three-foot rule," Nagisetty said. "It's a safety buffer."
Although bike lanes and sidewalks are mostly available in many areas, he said drivers have to share the roadways with cyclists.
"The bikes are a vehicle. We have a right to be on the road," Nagisetty said.
While that fact is true, another fact from NSC 2021 data found that nearly 70% of bicycle deaths happened in motor vehicle crashes.
Overall, numbers from the last 10 years have shown an increase in preventable deaths from bicycle transportation incidents. Nagisetty said those details are why TMACOG has been hosting this Ride of Silence for the last 14 years.
"The idea is to show that we are part of traffic. It's not just car versus bike, these are people we're talking about," Nagisetty said. "It is the job of bicycle riders to be visible, make sure that you have your rear reflectors, additional blinking lights."
He added cyclists should be predictable out on the road, and over-communicate turns and stops.
Nagisetty said The Ride of Silence will be a loud reminder by physically forcing drivers to be aware of cyclists.
He noted the Toledo ride has almost 100 bicyclists and the ride in Bowling Green has at least 50. This is the 15th year Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments has hosted this ride for the area.