Cyclists will gather at Philadelphia’s City Hall on Wednesday night for the 22nd annual Philly Ride of Silence as part of a global movement honoring cyclists killed or injured on local roads. Léelo en español aquí The ride also aims to encourage safer driving and stronger protections for people who commute by bike. Participants will meet at the north end of City Hall at 6:30 p.m. on May 27 before riding through Philadelphia streets in silence to remember loved ones lost in bicycle crashes. Among those being remembered this year is Hector “June” Rodriguez, a beloved friend and DJ who was killed by a hit-and-run driver near North 56th Street and Lancaster Avenue while riding home from work in December. “We lost a good friend June Rodriguez in December and that was a big hit for friends, family, but also just the local bike community,” Lor Song, with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, said. “He’s always been there for us as a bartender but also been there as kind of our therapist.” Organizers said Rodriguez is one of 15 cyclists killed by motorists in the Delaware Valley this year. The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia has been working with lawmakers and the Philadelphia Parking Authority to expand protected bike lanes across the city in an effort to prevent more deaths and injuries. “Enforcement is still really tough because sometimes people will be there for 10 minutes or there are Ubers,” John Boyle, with the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, said. The PPA said it has 18 bike patrol officers dedicated to bike lane enforcement. Since the unit launched in 2023, officers have issued more than 29,000 violations, including more than 12,000 tickets last year and more than 5,000 so far this year. Still, NBC10 observed cyclists being forced into traffic Wednesday on Pine and Spruce streets because of trucks and other vehicles blocking bike lanes. “If they’re there, try to explain, move, you’re affecting other people,” PPA spokesperson Corrine O’Conner said. “If they refuse to move, they’re gonna get a ticket. If there’s no one around and you don’t see activity, any loading and unloading, they’re gonna get a parking violation.” Cyclists said they hope to see more protected bike lanes and connected bike networks across Philadelphia to improve safety. “If we didn’t have to do the Ride of Silence, that would be great,” Song said. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less