May 20 Bicycle and Pedestrian “Ride of Silence”

MEDIA ADVISORY
For May 20, 2026

Bicycle and Pedestrian “Ride of Silence”

WHO: Bicyclists who have seen too many friends and family members injured or killed.

WHAT: Ride of Silence St. Petersburg is part of the national and international Rides of Silence (http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php) occurring on May 20. This will be a solemn, slow and silent procession.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 20, 2026; participants gather at 5:30 p.m. and depart at 6 p.m.

WHERE: Begins at the North Shore Aquatic Complex, 901 North Shore Dr NE, St. Petersburg. The bicyclists’ route will proceed south on Beach Dr., then west on Central Ave. to the Sun Art Roundabout at 11th St. Riders will circle the roundabout and then return east on Central, north on Beach Dr., returning to the NSAC.

WHY:
• According to transportation researchers and planners, our three regional counties – Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco – are among the most dangerous for both bicyclists and pedestrian in Florida and the nation (measuring fatalities and serious injuries per 100,000 population).
• Law enforcement agencies report that so far in 2026, in this region vehicle crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists have resulted in 17 deaths and 74 serious injuries.

CAUSES/SOLUTIONS:
• Poor road designs: Speed limits are often too high, lanes too wide and lack “calming” features. This encourages driver speeding. Narrower lanes and roadside landscaping slow traffic.
• Many intersection designs encourage fast right turns, allowing motorists to ignore or not see cyclists in crosswalks. “Bump-outs” slow driver turns and shorten the pedestrian crossing distances. Right-turn-on-red restrictions and special right-turn traffic signals are needed.
• Insufficient protected bike lanes. Painted lines and “Sharrows” are not protection.
• Lane crowding: Motorists fail to follow state laws requiring motorists to provide a minimum three-foot buffer for bicycles and motorists.
• Lack of enforcement. Criminal and moving violations issued are approximately 20 percent fewer than a decade ago statewide.

Contact: Peter Wray 614-906-1049; pwray@me.com. Members of the St. Petersburg Bike Club and others will be available before and after the ride.