Annual Blessing of the Bicycles and the Ride of Silence

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.-Hundreds of bicyclists gathered downtown tonight for the annual Blessing of the Bikes and the Ride of Silence. 

The blessing of the bikes is a tradition where riders ask for safe keeping in the new riding season. A non denominational priest officiated, focusing on rider safety and motorist awareness. 

After a two-year-delay due to Covid, this was the first Ride of Silence. While they ride, participants remember their friends and colleagues in the community who died in accidents due to motorists. 

“Taking a moment to pause and remember those who lost their lives riding bicycles and to ride in their memory but to also ask a blessing of riders in the future that that might be protected and kept safe is really important,” said priest Steve Pankey.

The event was open to everyone and included recreational riders, road bikers, mountain bikers, e-bikers and more. May is Bicycle Awareness Month.