May is National Bike Month, the time of the year when cyclists speak up about the need for more bike-friendly roads.

During the recent years, Miami cyclists have been gaining a powerful voice behind groups such as Emerge Miami, a network of bike enthusiasts who advocate for more road safety. One of their most famous events is the monthly Miami Critical Mass, in which cyclists orderly bike around town to raise awareness about the lack of biker rights in the city.

But don’t be intimidated. You don’t have to be a professional cyclist to join the group. Many of their members are just looking for more environmentally-friendly transportation options. Increasingly, Emerge Miami has also put together hip outings, including a bike prom a few months back, and regular graffiti tours (see event list below for the next one).

In celebration of Bike Month, cyclists will gather Wednesday, May 19, for a Ride of Silence, a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph and remain silent during the ride. The ride will show support for those who have been injured of killed in a bike, and will raise awareness about the cyclists’ legal right to the roads. The group will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Miami Seaquarium.

Here are other upcoming Emerge Miami events:

Ride of Silence
6 p.m., Wednesday, May 19.
Meet at the Miami Seaquarium, 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway
Visit the event meetup page for more information

Graffitti Bike Tour- Celebrate Miami’s street art.
10 a.m., Saturday May 22
Meet at the Allapattah Metro-Rail Station, 3501 NW 12th Avenue
Visit the event page for more information.

Critical Mass June Ride
10 a.m., Saturday, June 12
Meet at the Douglas Road Metro-Rail station.

Want to get more involved?
Emerge Miami meets Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at the Walflower Gallery, 10 N.E. 3rd Street
Downtown Miami