The 21st Annual Philadelphia Ride of Silence took place Wednesday, May 21st 2025 at 6:45 P.M. Despite the rain, around 200 cyclists gathered at City Hall to remember those who lost their lives, and silently rode together in solidarity to lift our bikes at the steps of the Art Museum.
There has never been a greater need to fund and expand safe bicycle infrastructure. The city is closing in on its goal of building 40 miles of high quality bike lanes but with the uncertainty of federal funds and the legislative status of parking protected bike lanes, bicyclists continue to be at risk. In fact, in 2024, the number of cyclists killed in the Greater Philadelphia region has plateaued. At the end of last year, the PA legislature didn’t pass life saving legislation that would legalize parking protected bike lanes all across the state, allowing municipalities across our region to build safer infrastructure on state owned roads.
“In the 21 years that we have worked on this event, I have to say what’s important and what is at the core of the vision zero program is just one word,” said John Siemiarowski, co-leader of the Ride of Silence Philadelphia. “RESPECT! We are here tonight and every year until there are zero bicyclists deaths to emphasize and demand that cyclists be treated with respect.”
This event continues each year due to the number of bicyclists killed due in part because of the lack of investments in safe road infrastructure. People come together to ask for greater investments to ensure the safety of all cyclists across the nation. The goal of the Ride of Silence is to not have another ride, but to have a year with zero bicyclist deaths.
Across the country, the number of bicyclists killed continues to rise. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1,166 people were killed, 4.4% higher than 2022. The ripple effects of 1,166 tragic deaths is incalculable. Thousands of families, friends, neighbors, coworkers and others will never see their loved ones again because of unnecessary and preventable crashes.
The thirteen bicyclists killed in the Delaware Valley in since last year’s ride are Dr. Barbara Friedes (30), Johnny Gaudreau (31), Matthew Gaudreau (29), Douglas W. Nutt (62), Unknown Teen Boy (14), Victoriano Choz (19), Dominique Jones (22), Jason Lohr (49), Josiah Grant (12), Michael Buie (51), Jeff Ishibashi (50), Unknown Rider, and James Goode (61).
“The Ride of Silence reminds all of us that traffic deaths are not just numbers, they are people,” said Chris Puchalsky, Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives of the Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems. “Every crash fatality is a friend, family member, colleague, spouse or coworker.”
The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia would like to thank the following for helping with the ride:
Ride of Silence Philadelphia Chapter
BCGP Staff and Volunteers
Families For Safe Streets of Greater Philadelphia
Stuart Leon Bicycle Crash Law
City of Philadelphia: The Office of Information and Technology
City of Philadelphia: The Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems
City of Philadelphia: The Office of Multimodal Planning
Philadelphia Police Department assistance
PBMA and BCGP Volunteer marshals
