Deana Sun shared this note from RABA. This is a good reminder for all of us. Please ride safely.
Obeying Traffic Laws And Riding In A Safe, Predictable Manner
We had a motorist / cyclist interaction from the past weekend at the Centerville Ride where the cyclist did not obey the traffic law (i.e., clearly at fault and admitted so to all) and was hit by a motorist. The cyclist did not stop at a stop sign and made a turn without checking for oncoming traffic. Luckily, the cyclist was not seriously injured, but it took the motorist being very fast to react, slamming on brakes, and doing everything she could to control the car. She hit the cyclist, sending the cyclist somersaulting through the air and destroying his back wheel in the process. The cyclist walked away, but was incredibly lucky that it was not catastrophic to him.
We have the Heart of Virginia event this upcoming Saturday, 9/20. There will be hundreds of cyclists on the roads, including many club members. We also know and have been recipients of angry, dangerous, and inattentive motorist behaviors and driving patterns. We also have made poor judgments periodically in our bicycling behavior by not obeying traffic laws like crossing double yellow lines, impeding cars from passing easily, or blocking intersections. Both bicyclists and motorists have faults and made mistakes; no party is completely correct or without fault. So, I encourage you, whenever and wherever you ride, to ride in a way that allows you to ride safely, within traffic laws, and uninjured to your finish, whether that be a parking lot or your doorstep, so that all who know or love you will know you are okay after your ride is done.
Note: this cyclist is not a member of RABA, but he participates in club rides frequently.
Thanks for reading,
Kim Moore
RABA Monthly Ride Director
Safety is our #1 priority
