- May 22, 2026
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Although there was a record turnout, with an estimated 130 people participating, it was still quiet as cyclists set out through downtown Sarasota.
The Ride of Silence, an international event, is held in honor of those who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways, with the goal of raising awareness of the presence of bicycles on the road.
The slow, processional ride includes no talking or music, allowing only hand signals for navigation.
This year's ride for Sarasota and Manatee counties, held May 20, came at an especially difficult time for the cycling community, with the loss of two well-known and experienced cyclists this year.
Attendees joined together from organizations that included the Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club and the Village Idiots Cycling Club in Lakewood Ranch, among others, for the 7-mile ride with escorts from the Sarasota Police Department.
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there have been 3,074 deaths this year in cycling crashes in the state, with 117 in Sarasota County.
Event organizers said participants remember seven cyclists killed in 2025, and five killed so far in 2026, in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
In January of this year, Patrick Franklin was struck and killed by a truck while riding in the bike lane on El Conquistador Parkway in Bradenton.
On the Saturday before the event, another cyclist, Craig Prather, who worked at Village Bikes as head mechanic, was killed while riding in the bike lane on 53rd Avenue in Bradenton.
Even as the weather appeared uncertain, attendees gathered at Robarts Arena, with rain emerging as they set out. However, participants said that by the time the group had returned, a large rainbow awaited.
Among those is attendance were Frankin's son, Patrick Franklin Jr., who was joined by numerous family members, including Patrick Franklin Sr.'s wife, Pam Franklin.
Patrick Franklin Jr., who also sometimes cycles himself, said there is not enough space given to cyclists on local roads.
“My father was doing everything right," he said. "He always wore high-visibility clothing, was always really strict about following the rules of the road, and somehow even then, he wasn't seen."
He said he hopes that features like the large protected bike lanes in downtown Sarasota can be implemented on other local routes frequented by cyclists.
“In riding, you really feel like you're exposed," he said. "You're kind of at the mercy of, 'Is the driver next to you on their phone? 'Are they looking down at their touch screen, radio, or are they paying attention?' You're at their mercy of whether or not they see you. There's not much a cyclist can do when they're put up against a 3,000-pound, 4,000-pound car.”
Joshua Titsworth and his fiancee, Stephanie Scheller heard about the Ride of Silence shortly after the death of Prather, with whom they were friends.
Titsworth said that Prather, also an experienced cyclist, was riding properly, using lights and following requirements.
"I love bicycles, and he lived them," Titsworth said. "He wanted to ride all the time. He also battled many health conditions, and every time he beat it, he was back on his bike."
“I think it's an incredible thing that they're doing,” Scheller said. “I’ve had many friends hit by cars. I mean, (Joshua) has been bumped on the road multiple times, so it's giving a moment for those who have been injured or are no longer with us.”
Florida Bicycle Association Vice President Eugene Rider believes the grief in the cycling community, as well as frustration, is one of the reasons why participation this year was so high.
He says improvements are needed in regards to infrastructure planning, as well as education on cycling safety, and he says the penalties motorists receive when cyclists are killed are not high enough.
“It gives us a sense of continuing our community and extending those personal bonds with other folks to help us to deal with the shock, and really frustration, for some people, about how little it means to the state of Florida when a cyclist is killed," he said.
He says some of the Florida Bicycle Association's efforts include seminars and classes, bike rodeos, lecture series and talks with homeowners associations.
He says they are also working with local organizations to create what he says are better initial designs for infrastructure going forward, for it is extremely difficult to retrofit the needed safety features.
Scheller said she hoped that the event would draw attention to the issue of safety for an activity she says is unifying, a passion for many people as well as an important form of exercise.
“I think it's uniting all the cyclists in the area," she said. "It's bringing light to a massive fault. You have designated bike lanes, but a painted line doesn't necessarily save a life."
