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Ride Of Silence Honors Cyclists Killed Or Injured While Riding

FORT SMITH (KFSM)– May is National Bike Month, and on Wednesday (May 18) cyclists all over the world participated in a Ride of Silence. This is the 13th y...

FORT SMITH (KFSM)-- May is National Bike Month, and on Wednesday (May 18) cyclists all over the world participated in a Ride of Silence.

This is the 13th year for the Ride of Silence and cyclists in 49 states and 20 countries road at the same time in complete silence.

“To honor those who have been killed or have been injured in cycling, and to raise awareness that we're out here on the roads and we're out here on the trails,” Carl Norris said.

Norris is the spokesman for the River Valley Cycling group, but he didn't organize the ride.

“Dale lost his son, Matt, about six years ago in Tulsa to a motorist, and so we're thankful to have Dale organize this ride, and we wanted to come out and support it,” Norris said.

Dale Edmonds put the ride together to honor Matt.

“He was riding with two other friends, which one of the other ones was killed also,” Edmonds said.

Edmonds said it wasn't until after his son's death that he became a cyclist himself.

“I got all my son's bicycles, and I couldn't part with them, so I figured I should ride them, so I’ve been riding them,” Edmonds said.

Norris said they ride to honor people like Matt, but also to keep accidents from happening.

“With motorists and their texting and everything that goes on there is some danger out there, so not only are we riding to honor those that we've lost and who've been injured, but to really raise awareness to try to minimize future accidents,” Norris said.

Norris said it was largest Ride of Silence the River Valley has ever had, and he expects even more people will join in next year.

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