Those watching the Park Hill July 4th parade saw the usual fire trucks, old cars and children’s arts groups move past them in succession, but they also witnessed an event likely more somber than expected.

At least a dozen people, many from Park Hill and wearing brightly-colored cyclist outfits, rode along with others in the parade, not in celebration of the holiday but as a tribute to the lives of pedestrians and bicyclists who were lost last year in crashes involving a motor vehicle.

The ride, dubbed the “Ride of Silence,” intended to raise awareness about the number of people who died last year and provide a start contrast to the otherwise celebratory event, said co-organizer Guy Pasquino.

Last year was the second-deadliest year on record for such deaths, with crashes killing 134 people, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. Additionally, pedestrian and bicyclist deaths have increased 78% since 2015.

The mind behind the event was Bob Shaver, a lifelong cyclist who, in 2022, witnessed an early morning crash that sent the bicyclist to the hospital with a litany of broken bones that have required a number of surgeries to repair. Then, on July 4 last year, he got an email from the man, who thanked Shaver for saving his life, he said.

“The doctor told him that they thought he was going to be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life,” Shaver said. “That’s why we’re doing this.”

While those involved in the ride were regular cyclists, some also had an incredibly personal connection to rider safety. Mary Salsich was hit by an out-of-control drunk driver while riding her bicycle on St. Patrick’s Day in 2019 near Lyons, suffering several broken bones, including a shattered hip and wrist, in the process.

Despite the injuries, some so severe that Salsich ended up in assisted living for a month because she couldn’t walk up the stairs of her own home, she felt empathy for the driver, who had no prior offenses.

“It was a felony, it could have ruined her life,” Salsich said. “I’m not a saint, I’m not an angel. For some reason, it was just one of those experiences in your life where you pick a different path.”

With some help from Boulder County’s restorative justice programs, Salsich ended up meeting with the driver a year later to engage in an honest conversation about what had happened. 

“She had moved in with her sister, didn’t drink anymore and gone back to school,” Salsich said. “She had gotten her life back on track.”

Now having fully recovered from her crash, Salsich is back biking on the road. When she heard Shaver suggest the idea for the ride, she jumped on board.

“I survived, but so many people I know through the community have been killed or hurt too seriously to ride the way they were,” Salsich said. “I’ll do anything just to get the word out.”