Ride of Silence honors Palm Springs man killed on cross-country bike trip, promotes safety
About 60 people gathered at Ruth Hardy Park in Palm Springs on Wednesday for a Ride of Silence, an event to raise public awareness about bicycling safety and to commemorate those who have been injured or killed while riding.
Although the event is held in different locations around the world, locally, the gathering was inspired by Palm Springs residents Lauri Aylaian, who was injured during a cross-country cycling tour in March, and Keith Culver, who was killed on the same tour, when they had reached Austin, Texas.
When riding with a group of 12 friends, Aylaian said a driver struck Culver, who was right behind her, and caused him to fly over her in a hit-and-run incident. She sustained a broken left leg, road rash and other scrapes and contusions, while Culver, 74, lost his life.
On Wednesday, Aylaian was able to ride, with her leg still bandaged. "I'm newly committed to educating people and helping raise awareness. When riding, drivers yell things at you that tell me they are not aware of the laws, they don't keep current," she told The Desert Sun.
An example she gave was motorists having to stay three feet away from cyclists, or to wait when it's not possible to do so.
Culver's friends remembered him at the event, and called him by his nickname, "The World's Most Fascinating Man," given to him for his impressive running and cycling skills.
Raymond Bordeaux, a friend and admirer of Culver's, said they were both part of a local running group called Front Runners. He said Culver had participated in two other cross-country rides and had run a marathon on every continent, earning him several medals.
"He was the one person, because he's been on so many of these trips, that you would think would not get hurt. And he got hit," Bordeaux said.
In a speech, Palm Springs Mayor Lisa Middleton spoke about the significance of hosting the event in the city, calling it a "personal issue," and sharing the story of how her own son was injured when he was on his bicycle, 10 years back.
Of raising awareness, Middleton said: "We are not going to quit. This is a valley-wide commitment." Palm Desert Mayor Jan Harnik and La Quinta Mayor Linda Evans also shared stories of friends and family being hurt or killed while riding. Each expressed support for cyclists and their sport.
Both Harnik and Evans said they hoped to have a similar event in their respective cities next year. Before sending the cyclists off on their ride, Evans said, "Ride in silence to remember those lost and hurt, but also those that we protect."
Most attendees set off on their bikes, but others walked along the sidewalk around the park. The route for the event was less than five miles. Requirements to participate included wearing helmets while riding, staying under 12 miles per hour, following all applicable laws and remaining silent.
Recent data shows that traffic fatalities in the Coachella Valley rose more than 28% in 2021, though the number of pedestrian fatalities decreased slightly compared to the previous year.
Last year, Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs each saw five pedestrian deaths, more than other valley cities. Traffic fatalities included six motorcyclists, two bicyclists, one person riding an electric scooter in Indio and a driver of a golf cart struck by a sedan in Palm Desert.
Eliana Perez covers the eastern Coachella Valley. Reach her at eliana.perez@thedesertsun.com or on Twitter @ElianaPress.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs Ride of Silence promotes safe biking, honors Keith Culver
