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The annual Tucson Ride of Silence kicks off at 5 p.m. at Ramada 19 in Reid Park. Riders can easily access the ramada by taking Bucky Steele Drive off the Country Club Road entrance.

After a brief ceremony to remember cyclists killed by motorists, riders will head north on Country Club Road, east on Broadway, south on Craycroft Road, west on 22nd Street, north on Country Club Road again and then right on Concert Place to return to the park. The route is around 8 miles long.

The slow-paced, silent ride will share the roads with traffic to highlight the importance of cyclists’ right to share the road.

The route will have El Tour De Tucson’s bike patrol riding at the front and back of the group to help ensure the riders’ safety, along with a police vehicle escort.

Riders interested in participating in the free event can register at tucne.ws/ridesilence or show up in person. The event organizers from the ask that riders sign a safety waiver, wear a helmet and bring plenty of water.

This year’s event marks the second consecutive year it’s been hosted by GABA, a volunteer-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting bicycle riding and safety.

“It’s about bicyclists and motorists safely sharing the road,� said Tom Clark, GABA’s Advocacy Director. “That’s one of the main things about this event, is trying to encourage safety because there’s a whole lot more injuries than fatalities every year. So, we want it to be a safe activity for going to work or for recreation. We want it to be a safe activity (for everyone). We want drivers to feel like they’re being respected by bicyclists, as well.�

The event was founded in Dallas more than 20 years ago. Since then, Ride of Silence has grown nationally and internationally.

In 2024, a total of 239 events in 40 states and 14 nations were registered by local organizers, according to the Ride of Silence .

Last year’s event in Tucson included around 65 riders, but organizers hope to have even more this year.

The city has seen its fair share of cyclist fatalities over the years, even ranking second in the U.S. for bicycle fatalities per capita in 2023, according to a study by .

Tucson had four bicycle fatalities last year and one already this year, according to the latest data from the Tucson Police Department. The most recent fatality happened just last week.

“(Ride of Silence) is part of an international movement for bicycle safety,� Clark said. “It’s one of many local events. … And I would estimate 10,000 riders worldwide participate in local Ride of Silence events, and so the city is the second biggest city in the state. It’s really a great place to have something like this, so you can raise awareness through your local event all over the country and around the world. … And we’re doing it because we think it’s the right thing to do. We need to have Ride of Silence and we want cyclists and motorists to share the road safely.�