By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Dozens in the Tucson cycling community gathered at Reid Park Thursday evening for an 8.2-mile silent ride.
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The ride is meant to honor cyclists who have been killed while riding and to call for safer streets in the Tucson area.
Dozens of cyclists rode slowly and silently around Tucson, following a ghost bike.
“I do find it very dangerous to ride on roads here in Tucson, and I think it’s important to make people aware of our presence,” said Natalie Roberge, a cyclist.
Roberge has been cycling in Tucson for a few years, but this ride means more to her than most.
She is riding to honor her friend, Wayne Cullop, who was hit while riding earlier this month. He remains in the ICU.
“He was president of the GABA for many, many years, he’s still a ride leader; he’s an advocate for the cycling community, so he has a huge presence here in Tucson,” Roberge said.
Incidents like that are why the Greater Arizona Bicycling Association holds a silent ride every year to honor fallen riders.
“No matter what you’re doing and why you’re on the bike, there’s no excuse, there’s no reason that you should end up having a 4-, 6,000-pound car colliding with you,” said Damion Alexander, an event organizer.
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The ride is part of a larger, international event. In Tucson, this ride was especially important, as just in the last six weeks, three cyclists were killed while riding.
“246 cyclists that were killed in Arizona, that’s disproportionately high in the nation. And then Tucson is disproportionately high in Arizona, and so we really need to get out and do something about it,” said Cliff Haston, a member of the Greater Arizona Bicycling Association.
Alexander said they are trying to encourage riders and drivers to share the road and stay in their lane.
“Put down your phones, pay attention, realize that it’s a brother, a mother, you know, a friend. We go out for rides, and we just wanna get home,” Alexander said.
Organizers like Alexander and Haston said they also want action to be taken.
“They’re not only just more aware of what’s going on, but they’re actually doing something about it, such as support infrastructure, report problems,” Haston said.
Pima County and the City of Tucson both have websites where road issues can be reported.
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