Bonita Bay bikers cancel ride of silence due to bad weather

The Bonita Bay Bike Club’s Annual Ride of Silence this year was canceled because of rainy weather but members still gathered and paid their respects to those killed or injured while cycling on public roadways.

“It’s an important night and we will do this over a drink instead,” said Jack Heckel, of the Bonita Bay Bike Club.

He and club members and friends met at Back Water Jacks inside of Bonita Bay because rainy weather made road conditions dangerous.

“It’s a night to promote safety as well and I didn’t want us to ride on wet and slippery roads where we are trying to show safety,” Heckel said.

The Ride of Silence is an event in which cyclists across the globe spend one night riding no faster than 12 mph and remain silent during the ride.

“Everyone injured or killed is honored and we wear a black band on our arm,” said Heckel, who has organized the event for several years.

The event is held during Bike Safety month and is also meant to create awareness among motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a right to the public roadways as well.

Heckel said last year 41 riders were lost to accidents.

Sheridan Fenwick, of Bonita Springs, lost her husband two years ago during a bicycle accident near Miromar Outlet.

“He was riding on the sidewalk and Lee County’s negligence in maintaining their pathway killed him,” she said.

Her husband, Worth Bruntjen, 67, was riding with Heckel leading but Bruntjen took an alternate trail through mud and fell, injuring what he thought was only his elbow. He died later that night.

“We need to let people know that accidents happen and that maintaining sidewalks is just as important as streets,” said Fenwick. “Lee County should have put cones or signs on that sidewalk and that’s what this ride is about.”

The event is free and everyone is invited, including the 125 members of the bike club.

“It’s essentially a funeral procession,” Heckel said.