Cyclists' silent ride honors those hurt or killed

PORTLAND, Ore. - Dozens of cyclists let their pedals do the talking during a Ride of Silence in northeast Portland Wednesday evening.

The ride, meant to honor those injured or killed while cycling on public roadways, took place in cities across Oregon and around the world.

Here in Portland, the gathering had special meaning for Jaydene Chandler whose sister, Marilyn, was killed in Eastern Oregon on August 10, 2005.

"She was hit from behind at 60 miles per hour by a young driver that obviously took her eyes off the road," she said.  And every year since her sister was killed, Chandler has rode with other cyclists to remember her.

Wednesday evening, the group rode across northeast Portland in silence with just the sounds of their tires on the ground, their gears clicking and the quiet ring of a bike bell to grab the attention of drivers along the way.

"I don't think people are as aware as they should be of bicyclists and there are more bicyclists all the time," said Chandler.

The group stopped at ghost bike locations as well, like the one at Northeast 69th and Fremont that marks where a cyclist was struck and paralyzed and another (pictured below) that marks the recent death of cyclist Sandy Bass. 

The ghost bikes are a sad reminder that with more cyclists on the same roads as drivers, there is the potential for danger.

"Wake up, pay attention, share the roads," said organizer Russ Willis.