Cycling PSA: Please Don't Hurt Us
I participated in another bike event over the weekend, with a friend of mine. We did 55 miles. Yes, we started out intending to do 55 miles, and we did not get lost. It was a great ride, very organized, lots of fun. Overall, a good experience.

However, as a cyclist, I'd like to beg upon other users of the roads to have pity on us cyclists. The ride over the weekend is an annual event. This year it was dedicated to the honor of a well-known area cyclist who was killed a couple of months ago, while biking. He was a great distance cyclist, biking thousands of miles a year. In fact, he had retired from his career to seriously pursue long-distance cycling. He was out riding one day on a rural highway here in North Texas, when he was struck in the head by the side mirror of a passing school bus. The bus didn't give him enough room on the road, and as a result of the injuries from the bus, he died a day or so later. I'd never met him, but he was apparently well-liked and well-known in the area.

With this on our minds as we rode over the weekend, safety and caution was a priority. But, even as careful as cyclists can be, we still need cooperation from other motorists. Unfortunately, as we rode in honor of the fallen cyclist, there was another major accident during the ride.

My friend and I stopped at a rest stop to catch our breath and refill on water. As we waited in line, an ambulance flew past, sirens blaring, heading up the route. We got back on our bikes and continued on our way. Another ambulance flew past. Then a firetruck. Then I saw the CareFlight helicopter land in a field a mile or so up the road.

When we got to the scene, I counted at least six ambulances, several fire trucks, a few other emergency vehicles, and the CareFlight copter. The two-laned rural highway was completely blocked off. We were asked to get off the road, pick up our bikes, make our way down into the ditch on the side of the road, and walk, carrying our bikes through the tall weeds, until we were on the other side of the accident. After about 100 yards, we were able to climb back up the embankment and get back onto the road.

In passing along the scene of the accident, I was able to see several banged up and bloody bikers, bandaged, filling out reports and talking on cell phones and to officials. Bikes lined the side of the road, some mangled. I've never seen a warzone, but the scene was a cyclist version of major devastation. I asked someone standing nearby what had happened. All she knew was that it was a major accident involving at least one car and seven or eight bikers. My friend with me heard someone else say someone had died. We were asked to keep going, to clear the area.

So, with that scene in our heads, we continued on. Cautiously, nervously, and with a heavy heart. Not being sure of the details or the accuracy of what I'd heard, it was still a disturbing picture to see so many emergency vehicles, flashing lights, people confused and injured. All during a ride to honor someone who had been through the same thing, and had not survived. This accident had taken place about fifteen minutes ahead of my friend and I. Had we not stopped at the last rest stop, we could have been much closer to being involved.

We crossed the finish line and celebrated our victory. As we ate lunch and rested among other cyclists, we wondered what had really happened out on the road.

The next day in the paper I was relieved to learn that no one was killed, and there were no life-threatening injuries. A car had plowed into one cyclist, and when the cyclist fell he caused a group of cyclists to fall, too. The people in the car are being charged with a felony offense. Reckless driving, among other things. They were not injured. But, I am thankful that everyone involved will be okay. At least physically.

So, I beg of you, when you see a cyclist on the road, give plenty of space. It is nerve-wracking enough to ride on roads next to highspeed traffic, with large trucks whizzing by, trying to stay upright and out of the way. Bikes are road vehicles, required to ride on the same streets as your car, so we deserve the same courtesy you give to other cars on the road. Cyclists are required to obey all traffic laws. We promise to keep to our edge of the road, alert, riding with safety. We ask that you give us some space and help us stay safe.

C.T.