New Jersey bicyclists gear up for Ride of Silence for safety

    By
  • Associated Press
    • March 20, 2016
  • A newly banded nestling and its mother keeping watch above at the Sedge Island Wildlife Management Area in Barnegat Bay. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

    A newly banded nestling and its mother keeping watch above at the Sedge Island Wildlife Management Area in Barnegat Bay. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

  • Another close approach by an osprey while Ben Wurst works in a nest. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

    Another close approach by an osprey while Ben Wurst works in a nest. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

  • Ben Wurst tagging a chick while the mother osprey passes very close to the nest. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

    Ben Wurst tagging a chick while the mother osprey passes very close to the nest. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

  • Osprey chicks huddling in the nest. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

    Osprey chicks huddling in the nest. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

  • Ben Wurst raises his hand as an osprey approaches the nest. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

    Ben Wurst raises his hand as an osprey approaches the nest. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

  • Ben Wurst ready to access an osprey nest. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

    Ben Wurst ready to access an osprey nest. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

  • Ben Wurst unloading a ladder from the boat to access an osprey nest. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

    Ben Wurst unloading a ladder from the boat to access an osprey nest. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

  • (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

    (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

  • Bands used to identify ospreys. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

    Bands used to identify ospreys. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

  • Approaching an osprey nest within Sedges Islands State Wildlife Management Area. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

    Approaching an osprey nest within Sedges Islands State Wildlife Management Area. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

  • Two osprey chicks huddled together. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

    Two osprey chicks huddled together. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

  • The small boat Ben Wurst uses on his osprey survey and banding missions. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

    The small boat Ben Wurst uses on his osprey survey and banding missions. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

  • Ben Wurst removing trash from an osprey nest. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

    Ben Wurst removing trash from an osprey nest. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

  • Osprey chicks huddling in the nest. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

    Osprey chicks huddling in the nest. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

  • Author Justin Auciello holds an osprey chick. (Photo: Ben Wurst/CWF)

    Author Justin Auciello holds an osprey chick. (Photo: Ben Wurst/CWF)

  • A little teaser of what's to come later in this gallery. This is a curious osprey nestling looking directly into the camera of CWF's Ben Wurst. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

    A little teaser of what's to come later in this gallery. This is a curious osprey nestling looking directly into the camera of CWF's Ben Wurst. (Justin Auciello for WHYY)

Some New Jersey bicyclists are gearing up for their annual ride to honor those injured or killed while cycling.

The Ride of Silence in May takes place in Medford, Somerset, Williamstown and other locations and is meant to quietly raise awareness that cyclists are sharing roadways with motorists. It’s part of a worldwide movement involving thousands of cyclists who ride on the third Wednesday in May without saying a word.

This year’s ride is scheduled for May 18.

Organizers say last year’s ride took place in 340 locations worldwide. They say zero words were spoken.

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Williamstown ride leader Debbie Kaighn says there have been at least two cycling deaths in New Jersey this year.

She says this year’s Ride of Silence route is 10 miles long and the pace will be 10 to 12 mph. Helmets are mandatory.

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