INTERNATIONAL event The Ride Of Silence will be coming to Swindon on Wednesday.

The Ride of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12mph, wear helmets, follow the rules of the road and remain silent during the ride. There are no national sponsors and no registration fees.

The ride, which is held during National Bike Month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways.

The ride is also a chance to show respect for and honour the lives of those who have been killed or injured, first taking place in America in 2003 after the death of a cyclist.

Swindon Bicycle Users Group (BUG) will be supporting this ride which begins at Faringdon Road Park in Faringdon Road on Wednesday at 6.30pm.

Rob Derry, of Swindon BUG, said: “BUG are very supportive of this ride and some of our members will be paying our respects to cyclists all over the world that have been killed and injured on the roads.

"We are fortunate in Swindon, however, to have a network of paths and less busy roads that cyclists can use.

"In the last five years there has not been a cyclist fatality that involved a motor vehicle and, overall, the risks of being killed or seriously injured as a cyclist are about the same as they as a pedestrian so we don’t want to put people off cycling.

"This ride, for us, is about commemorating those who have lost their lives or have been seriously injured and a way to show our determination to make Swindon an even safer place to cycle for more people.”

Organisers says the number of those registering to take part has already surpassed expectations.

For more information or to sign up visit bit.ly/1senkML