Ride for Silence changes route due to high permit costs in Abilene
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – The 'Ride for Silence' organizer says fees for special events permits are too high, so in response, they are changing the traditional route for the ride for cyclist safety.
Policies surrounding special event permits are changing the landscape for the 'Ride for Silence' cyclist safety awareness ride. This nationwide annual event gathers cyclists together for a collective ride to honor cyclists who have been injured or killed while riding a bicycle on roadways.
'Too many ghosts': Abilene's 7th annual ride of silence reminds drivers to share the road, be safe
Due to changes made regarding permit policies for select Abilene events, the organizers now face a ride with no permit. Ordinarily, the Ride for Silence awareness event begins at McMurry University, taking a multi-mile route through Abilene streets with a police escort to help negotiate traffic in busy areas. However, this year, while trying to obtain a permit for the event, Secretary Treasurer for Steamboat Cycling, Mark Spurlock, said the fees were too high to justify a permit.
'We certainly do not mind paying for the services of the Abilene Police Department. That was going to be around $300. Then there was an event fee, and the part that really kind of tipped the scales, so to speak, was about a $400 liability insurance cost that we were going to have to incur,' Spurlock explained.
Spurlock mentioned that the total cost to comply with the guidelines for obtaining the proper permit was approximately $900. Looking at the documents from the Abilene City Council meeting on March 13, events such as the Ride for Silence are now classified as a 'procession.' Additionally, liability insurance from an external entity, separate from the city, is required to qualify for a permit.
Spurlock said he has no bad feelings toward the city for the policy change, but he adds that these fees became an issue for this event only this year.
'From what I remember, we just would always go to the city, and they would show up. Other than that, I don't recall us having any event fees or liability insurance over the years,' Spurlock added.
Abilene cyclists come together for 2021 Ride of Silence
Because of the lack of permits, the event will no longer have a police escort to aid in heavy traffic areas, so the organizers have changed the route and starting point for the ride. This year, the ride will be on Wednesday, May 21, the same date as it has always been, but it will now start at Bike Town, located at 1789 Industrial Boulevard, with an adjusted route to avoid main thoroughfare roads to help ensure safety for the participants.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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