Davis Cyclists Ride in Silence to Honor Three Lives Lost to Traffic

On a day when thousands of cyclists across the globe geared up for an unusual kind of ride—one without conversation, music, or fanfare—Davis residents pedaled through their community in quiet remembrance. The Ride of Silence is a worldwide movement designed to honor those injured or killed while cycling on public roads, and this year’s Davis edition carried particular weight.

The ride paid tribute to three cyclists hit and killed in the area, with special focus on UC Davis student Lincoln Sabini, who was struck and killed last month while commuting to work by bike. For organizer Aaron Shaw and the Davis cycling community, Sabini’s death became a catalyst for action.“That event has kind of activated a lot of things in this community, we’re trying to make this year special, we’re honoring him,”Shaw said.

The Ride of Silence itself is elegantly simple—participants gather and ride together without speaking, creating a solemn procession through city streets. No chants, no speeches, no noise. Just the sound of wheels on pavement and the presence of people unified around a singular message: bikes belong on our roads, and the people who ride them deserve to get home safely. Similar rides unfolded in communities worldwide, amplifying an increasingly urgent conversation about bike safety and driver accountability.

For Davis, a college town known for its bike-friendly culture, these losses hit especially hard. Students use bicycles as their primary mode of transportation. Families bike to work and school. Yet infrastructure and driver behavior haven’t always evolved to match that reality. The Ride of Silence serves a dual purpose—it’s both a memorial and a wake-up call. Every rider out there is essentially saying: we won’t stay silent about this problem anymore.