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Westfield man honored by 'Ride of Silence'

By Erin O'Connor

Staff Writer



WESTFIELD Reign Salois Jr., who passed away in September of 2006, was honored last Wednesday during the National Ride of Silence.

The Ride took place at 7 p.m. Cyclists organized at the South Middle School.

The Ride a national event was localized by Nancy Stolpinski and members of the Pioneer Valley Ride of Silence Committee.

The Ride aimed to raise awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways.

It is also a chance to show respect for those who have been killed or injured while riding a bicycle on or near a roadway states the web site at www.rideofsilence.org.

It was a free and silent bike ride where cyclists are not allowed to exceed 12 mph. The ride is a national event which branches into communities wishing to participate. There are no brochures, sponsors, or registration fees.

Cyclists rode in cities across the world on May 17 wearing black armbands to serve as reminders for whom they were cycling.

The ride starting at South Middle School was dedicated to Salois, a native of Westfield who was struck by a drunk driver on October 29 of 1994 while walking on Court Street with his bicycle.

The accident left Salois living out the next eleven years of his life as a quadriplegic, paralyzed from the neck down.

"Your body might not soar like an eagle, but your spirit will," it is stated on Salois' web site at ReignsHomepage.com.

Salois' mother and father were present for the Ride.

"It gets his name back out there," Mrs. Salois said, "that he was hit by a drunk driver while walking by the side of the road with his bicycle. It brings the issue back to the forefront."

The Ride of Silence began in 2003 by Chris Phelan in Texas. He organized the first Ride of Silence in Dallas after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by a mirror of a passing bus and was killed.