BURLINGTON, Vt. -
On Wednesday, bicyclists across the country took part in the "Ride of Silence."
Ride of Silence INFORMATION
That included events in communities across our area. They were a way to remember bicyclists who have been injured or killed in crashes with cars.
There were 13 rides scheduled across Vermont. Some had to be canceled because of the weather.
For those that did go on, they hoped to send a message of safety to anyone who bikes, walks or drives on the roads.
Biker Matt Barrows says while most drivers are careful, some get too close.
"Very close a couple of times," says Barrows.
In Burlington Wednesday, Barrows organized a Ride of Silence.
"I enjoy biking so much but the unfortunate truth is it's really dangerous and a lot of people don't feel safe," says Barrows.
Chapin Spencer is the executive director of Local Motion. It's a Burlington based non-profit that promotes bike safety.
"We have a long way to go," says Spencer.
Spencer says new Vermont laws have made it safer for bikers. But he says more education is needed for everyone on the road, there are roads that should be improved, and there are also new challenges.
"We're facing a lot of things like distracted driving that we really didn't experience at the same level as we do now," says Spencer.
Through the help of Barrows and other UVM students, The Ride of Silence expanded across Vermont this year. Barrows just hopes everyone learns a simple lesson from the short ride.
"The road is not for cars alone," says Barrows.
Experts say it's hard to know how many people are hurt or killed while biking in Vermont, because sometimes they aren't reported or are lumped with other road related crashes.
