by Blake Seitz

According to the League of American Bicyclists, around 700 cyclists are struck and killed by cars each year. While this may seem like an impersonal statistic, it now carries weight with the Coppell community, and one family in particular.

On July 22, 2007, a vehicle ran a red light, killing cyclist Gregory Dean. Gregory, a family man and active member of the community, is survived by wife Patti Dean and daughter Betsy Dean, a freshman at CHS.

Not long after the tragedy, the Dean family, in conjunction with David Stonecipher of Dallas Athletes and Karen Zajac of the Carrollton Cycling Club, decided to organize a Ride of Silence in memory of Gregory, and in memory of fallen riders across the country.

“The Ride of Silence honors cyclists killed on the roads by motorists,” Patti said. “This event is held on this day all over the world. We hope to promote awareness in motorists that cyclists are human beings, and that cars need to share the road.”

The response they got from riders was overwhelming.

The ride has grown each year from the outset, as more hear of the cause and want to get involved. This year’s ride, held on Wednesday, brought out 100 riders and a number of volunteers.

“I’m here in support of the community and my good friend Patti Dean,” mayor Jayne Peters said. “It’s an activist issue for us all now. I heard about it, and just showed up.”

The event began with a sobering rendition of “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes. Then the 13-mile ride began—the cyclists filed out at a lazy pace, quiet except for the ticking of bicycle spokes.

Amateur cyclist Tom Day, who participated with his daughter, Andrea Day, described the effect of the Ride of Silence; he was also quick to point out a common misconception.

“It’s a ride, not a race,” Tom said. “The Ride of Silence is very unique—it’s completely silent, and done at a slow pace. It’s a tremendous way to support the Deans each year, and a great way to spend time with my daughter.”

The ride finished where it began, in the parking lot of CHS. The evening was capped with a playing of “Taps” by senior trumpet player Kyle Wilkinson. The performance wasn’t the swan song of the Ride of Silence, though—Patti plans to continue the race annually as long as her message is still salient.

“Greg died doing something he loved because of someone’s mistake,” Patti said. “It didn’t have to happen, and it doesn’t have to happen if we’re all mindful of one another.”

For more information on the Ride of Silence, visit its web site.