Bicyclists, please put safety first

By Nick Gearhart

----

I was leaving Kennedy High School parking lot recently, turning left (east) onto 42nd Street NE, and I was following a red pickup truck. I look to my left and see three bicyclists heading to the intersection of Wenig Road and 42nd Street at full speed and, to my horror, realize they are all about to blast through a red light!

The first two make it through, barely. The third, not so lucky.

The sickening sound of the collision, a body flung high into the air, flipping over and over like a rag doll along with his bicycle. Coming down, he bounced on top of the truck, then to the right side and finally to the street.

Within seconds, there were a dozen people there as first responders and someone had called 911. The good news was he was wearing a helmet. Injuries were not life-threatening. But it could have been so much worse.

I see this every day, bicyclists running stop signs and traffic lights.

Now lest you think I am just one of those “streets are for cars” curmudgeons, you should know I have been a triathlete for more than 30 years and have logged thousands of miles on my bicycle. While I have never blown through a red light of a busy intersection at speed, I have done my fair share of coming up to a red light, doing the “pedal waggle” so I don't have to unclip while waiting for the light to turn green. I have also been known to coast through a stop sign if there is no traffic.

Never again. I'm sure you've heard that when a 30-pound bicycle and a 2,000-pound car come together, the car always wins.

Cyclists - if starting and stopping while cycling in the city is too much trouble, then get out on the open road or on a trail. Remember: A bicycle is a vehicle and must obey all traffic laws just like a car. Do you ever wonder why so many motorists loathe bicyclists? Because a handful of cyclists think they are above the law and give all of us a bad name.

Biking on the street and highway, ride in single file on the right side of the road, obey all traffic laws and never wear head phones. You always want to be vigilant of your surroundings and environment.

And always wear a helmet. The worst bike accident I was ever in? I was doing 5 mph on the trail around Cedar Lake. Swerving to avoid an in-line skater and sand. Down I went, right on my head and cracked my helmet. If I hadn't been wearing one I would not be writing this column.

Motorists, remember: It is state law that you must yield to a pedestrian in the crosswalk and most motorists don't.

Our roads and streets can accommodate both motor vehicles and bicycles. But let's all put safety first.

Nick Gearhart of Cedar Rapids has completed 300 triathlons since 1980, coaches an adult swim team and chairs the Camp Courageous Sprint Triathlon. Comments: nickgearhart@hotmail.com