Courtesy
Cyclists gather under sunny skies for the 2023 edition of the Tour du Silence in Sherbrooke, which drew a crowd of over 230 participants riding in honour of those injured or killed in traffic collisions
Cycling event returns to Sherbrooke with renewed urgency amid rising collisions
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
On Wednesday, May 21, cyclists in Sherbrooke will once again take to the streets for the Tour du Silence, a solemn annual ride that honours cyclists killed or injured in traffic accidents. The event, which has run locally since 2004, will depart at 6 p.m. from IGA Extra on King Street West and proceed in silence to a commemorative monument on St-François Boulevard.
Sherbrooke is one of 18 participating Quebec municipalities joining over 400 cities worldwide in the Ride of Silence, a movement born in Texas in 2003 after a cyclist was struck and killed during a training ride. “It’s a moment to remember those we’ve lost,” said Jean Pinard, a long-time member of the Sherbrooke Cycling Club and the event’s communications manager. “But it’s also about prevention—for drivers and cyclists.”
Pinard knows the stakes firsthand. Years ago, he was hit by a car while riding through Saint-Élie. “The driver’s mirror caught me just outside the white line,” he recalled. “I ended up with broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a fractured collarbone. It took me two months to recover, but I still cycle about 4,000 kilometres a year.”
The ride, which is free and open to all, will maintain a slow 15 km/h pace under police escort over a total distance of 8.4 km. Helmets are mandatory, and registration is required, either online via the Fédération québécoise de sport cycliste (FQSC) or on site starting at 5:15 p.m.
This year’s honorary president is Hôtel-Dieu councillor Laure Letarte-Lavoie, who also serves as president of the Société de transport de Sherbrooke. She will deliver brief remarks at the monument site shortly after the cyclists arrive around 6:40 p.m.
Recent statistics underscore the event’s continued relevance. In 2025 alone, Sherbrooke has already seen 35 accidents involving cyclists and motor vehicles—two resulting in serious injury and one in death, according to police. Pinard suggests that part of the rise may be linked to a surge in ridership: “During the pandemic, Vélo Québec recorded over 144,000 uses of La Promenade du Lac des Nations in one summer. Sales of bikes, especially electric ones, have since skyrocketed.”
Pinard emphasized that the Tour du Silence promotes not just memorializing victims, but also education. “It’s a double message,” he said. “We’re reminding motorists to keep their distance—1.5 metres on provincial roads over 50 km/h, one metre elsewhere—and encouraging cyclists to obey the rules too.”
To that end, all new members of the Sherbrooke Cycling Club must complete a two-hour safety theory course and four supervised rides. “Cyclists need to signal turns, ride in appropriate formations, and know when to avoid traffic,” he said, noting he personally avoids major streets like Portland at rush hour.
In collaboration with the Fédération québécoise de sport cycliste, advocates are pushing to modify regulations so groups of up to 10 cyclists can ride in double file. “Drivers don’t always know how to pass a line of 15 cyclists,” Pinard explained. “Sometimes we’re treated like farm tractors—we’re visible, but not given enough space.”
Despite challenges, he sees signs of progress. Sherbrooke has invested in safer infrastructure like the tunnel on Boulevard Industriel and the new central bike lane on Boulevard René-Lévesque. A network expansion is underway to better connect Sherbrooke’s various bike paths, and this summer will see the launch of a BIXI-style electric bike-share system, with 250 bikes and multiple charging stations between the Cégep, Université de Sherbrooke, and downtown.
“Things are improving,” Pinard said. “But awareness is still key. Every driver has a kid—or knows someone—on a bike. This ride reminds us all to share the road.”
For more information, visit the Sherbrooke Cycling Club website or consult the FQSC registration portal.