Bicycle Advocates for Annapolis & Anne Arundel County hosted the 2021 Annual Annapolis Ride of Silence the evening of May 19 with Bike Patrol Officers from Anne Arundel County Police and Annapolis City Police providing escort. The global Ride of Silence is in memory of people on bikes killed or injured on our roads and draws attention to the need for safer driving, routes and laws. Several of the Annapolis cyclists flew Ride of Silence burgees (small flags) as a nod to Annapolis maritime heritage. The ride made front page coverage of the Capital Gazette.
Glenn Gunter, Maryland Ride of Silence Coordinator, Nigel Samaroo from Bike Maryland, Jon Korin of Bicycle Advocates for Annapolis & Anne Arundel County and Mayor Gavin Buckley spoke before the ride commenced. They addressed the need for safer bike routes and also Maryland’s new Vulnerable Road User law passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Hogan on May 18. The new law which goes into effect October 1, 2021 defines “Vulnerable Road Users” as anyone outside of a vehicle lawfully using or crossing a roadway. This includes pedestrians, bicyclists, wheelchair users, motorcycle riders, emergency responders and others. By increasing the penalties and adding a “must appear” for drivers who seriously injure or kill the vulnerable it raises their duty of care and deters them from dangerous driving. It fills a gap between traffic violations and higher offenses. Approximately 50 people from around the area biked a 6 mile route through downtown Annapolis in honor of those people on bicycles killed and injured on Maryland’s roads. Since 2010, at least 103 people on bicycles have been killed on Maryland roads. People local to Anne Arundel County who lost their lives were remembered. Those people include:
2020 – Arthur Carter 2020 – Thomas Adensam 2020 – Stephen Marx 2020 – Unidentified in Pasadena 2019 – Lennel Boone 2017 – Jeremy Pope 2016 – Irene Szczesniak 2015 – John Fauerby and his wife, Lynn Rosenbusch 2013 – Trish Cunningham 2013 – Doc Heslin