On a rainy Wednesday evening, May 21, LMB participated in the Greater Lansing Ride of Silence, co-hosted by the Tri-County Bicycle Association Advocacy Committee and MSU Bikes. Now in its 18th year, Lansing’s Ride of Silence is part of a global movement, with over 300 events worldwide honoring bicyclists who have been killed or injured by motor vehicles and calls for safer roads for all.
Despite the weather, the ride began at the MSU Bikes Service Center at 6:30 p.m., where attendees gathered before setting off on a police-escorted, silent ride to the Michigan State Capitol. The procession was supported by both Lansing Police and MSU bike patrol officers, ensuring a safe and visible presence on the road. At the Capitol, riders paused for a brief memorial ceremony, reflecting on the lives lost and recommitting to the work ahead. Afterward, many gathered at Ozone’s Brewhouse to connect and reflect with fellow advocates helping make Michigan’s roads safer.
This solemn ride is a powerful reminder that every cyclist injured or killed on our roads was a person—someone’s friend, family member, co-worker. We rode in silence to honor their memory and to say, with one voice, that one life lost is one too many.
LMB’s Outreach Coordinator, Jessica Lanave, shared a few words at the event, reminding everyone why events like this matter, not just as moments of remembrance, but as calls to action.
This ride is about remembrance but also resolve. Because we believe a world where no one has to fear for their life on a bike is possible. And necessary. At the LMB, we’re working for systemic change that protects people on bikes, starting with better laws. We believe no one should have to risk their life to ride a bike and that everyone deserves to arrive safely at their destination.
That’s why we’re advocating for legislative priorities including:
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Vulnerable Roadway User (VRU) protections, laws that would increase penalties for drivers who injure or kill cyclists, pedestrians, and other non-motorized road users.
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Updating Michigan Compiled Law on Dooring and Bike Lane Parking:
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Strengthening anti-dooring laws, to hold drivers accountable for opening car doors into the path of cyclists.
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Enforcing penalties for parking in bike lanes, because a bike lane blocked is a danger created.
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Safer streets aren’t just about laws, they’re about culture. They’re about shifting how we view cyclists: not as obstacles, but as neighbors. Not as traffic, but as people. Behind every piece of legislation we fight for is a story like the ones we remembered at the Ride of Silence. And that’s what drives our work.
The Ride of Silence is a reminder not just of who we’ve lost, but of what we can build: safer roads, stronger communities, and a future where rides like this are no longer necessary. LMB is proud to stand with Michigan cyclists and advocates in this shared mission.
We extend our gratitude to WILX News 10 for covering the event and helping amplify the voices of cyclists and advocates. You can check out the story here.
Categorised in: Advocacy, Uncategorized