An estimated 500 riders turned up at the Merlion, near the Fullerton for the Ride of Silence 2009. All sorts of bicycles could be seen making up the crowd, from sleek carbon road racing machines, to cute foldable bikes, to garish neon fixed gear whips. While it took some time before the SMUX biking team contingent was dispatched, we were immersed in the mood of the impromptu crowd, tempered by patience and consideration for others as befitting that of the silent theme of the mass ride. Many had simply turned up on the spot and signed up there and then for the ride.
It was amazing to see riders of all stripes and ages riding together in a pack strung out along Singapore roads to commemorate the safety of cyclists on the roads. While it was an initial nightmare trying to organize a pack of strangers to ride together with any semblance of discipline, it turned out to be a non-issue. The ride turned out to be slow and controlled enough such that no riders were left behind or forced to ride dangerously. To me this reinforces the message that riding a bicycle on the roads should be (is) safe. By riding safely, we can get to ride again another day.
By Su JunJie
