Jane Higdon was a textbook author, nutrition expert and Ironman triathlete. On May 31, 2006, she was training on Territorial Highway, just west of Cottage Grove, and died instantly after being struck by a logging truck.
One year after Higdon’s death, her friend Dwight Collins, owner of Newman’s Fish Market on Willamette Street, organized Eugene’s first Ride of Silence, an event centered around remembering cyclists who were killed or injured in accidents. Wednesday evening, he is leading the second one.
“It is a chance to get together to support one another. It’s also an opportunity to heighten the awareness of all people sharing the road,” Collins said. “(Ride of Silence is about) trying to get something good from a terrible accident.”
Two weeks after Plano Bicycling Association member Larry Schwartz was killed by a school bus mirror in May 2003, his friend, Chris Phelan, organized the first Ride of Silence in Dallas, Texas.

Now, there are Rides of Silence in 272 cities throughout all 50 states and 14 other countries including Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Japan and Antarctica. They are safety-focused – all participants are required to wear helmets – and leisurely paced.
“It’s more of that ride of displaying unity and just giving you the chance to ride in silence and remember your friends and family and others who may have died,” Collins said.
Eric Selker, a University biology professor, thinks Ride of Silence is a perfect opportunity to show motorists that cyclists also use the road. He said the fact that Friendly Street, Storey Boulevard and Crest Drive are being resurfaced without bike lanes shows the lack of attention paid to cyclists’ rights.
“People do care about bikes here, but not what it should be,” he said. “It’s not a real priority.
“Eugene is considered one of the best places in the country, but it still sucks here for bikes. You try to bicycle down Willamette Street, it’s really dangerous.”
In order to prevent future accidents, Collins said he is working with state legislators to make things safer for cyclists.
For an extra $5, Oregonians will soon be able to purchase “Share the Road” license plates, the chief sponsor of which was Floyd Prozanski, the Democratic senator representing South Lane and North Douglas counties.
University graduate student Doug Turnbull is attending the Ride of Silence. A member of Oregon Bicycle Racing Association, he has known many cyclists who have been involved in accidents. He also thinks cyclists’ right to the road is a valid issue.
“I think a lot of people in cars don’t realize that if they run into us, we’re going to be seriously injured or killed,” he said. “When you see a cyclist, you need to have courtesy and respect, or at least not drive aggressively.”
Last year’s Ride of Silence was attended by about 200 people; Collins said he hopes that number goes up tonight.
“Certainly the number of riders felt good being able to be together as one and having a strong voice of stating that we have the right to be on the road, and we expect you to share the road,” he said.
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