A couple weeks ago we wrote —and you expressed your opinion about — cyclists receiving tickets for running stop signs/not obeying rules near White Rock Lake.
Because the popularity of the lake is growing exponentially, lake safety is becoming an increasingly important matter. Cyclists get the brunt of the blame/ responsibility because they are faster and more elevated than other lake users, but this accident last weekend — the topic of much discussion on the Morning News site —seems to have been caused by a pedestrian. Apparently a volunteer handing out water at a running event stepped onto the trail in front of a cyclist, and the cyclist swirved, fell, and ended up with broken bones.
The cyclist’s husband sent an email to the News suggesting that bikes simply not be allowed on the trail during a road race. I don’t think that’s an option, since this time of year, and throughout fall and winter, there are races every weekend. It just wouldn’t be fair, and no one would go for it. But I do think race participants/ volunteers need to be way better educated. When you are part of a race, it is easy to get self-absorbed and to forget that there are other people out there who are just doing their thing, as this woman who was injured seemed to have been doing (and had every right to be doing). I find it interesting that the letter from the husband says he guesses that the person who caused the injury probably wasn’t even aware that it happened.
Also, he notes that everyone — runners, cyclists, etc — who saw it happen rushed to his wife’s aid. It’s just too bad it often takes something terrible happening before the consideration (and awareness of other people around us) kicks in.
