Cyclist hit during a 'share the road' ride

CNews ^ | 9/1/10 | Scott Haddow

[MissTed]

SUDBURY, Ont. — A cyclist who may have been taking part in a Share the Road campaign bike ride was hit by a vehicle Tuesday evening.

"I heard it at first and when I looked over I saw the guy was flying in the air and then he hit the ground and was not moving," ride participant Jason Russell said.

"After a little while he was moving around and the emergency crews got there right away. I couldn't talk to anyone on the ride back to Science North. It was really scary to see. It could have been me."

The large group of cyclists were out to raise awareness about cyclists and motorists sharing the road. The ride was lead by Sudbury Olympian Devon Kershaw and Share the Road founder Eleanor McMahon.

Kershaw was clearly shaking and upset upon returning to Science North and had only one thing on his mind at the time.

Both McMahon and Kershaw lost loved ones due to the negligence of vehicle drivers. McMahon lost her husband, OPP sergeant Greg Stobbart in June 2006. Kershaw lost his girlfriend, Sofie Manarin, when she was killed in Sudbury in 2001 by a truck.

The accident happened eerily close to where Manarin was killed.

"I didn't see it and I didn't like it that's for sure," he said. "It sucks. I just hope the man is OK. This was the reason why I am here so stuff like that doesn't happen. My thoughts are with his family, more than they know."

[MissTed]

Glad he's okay, but title made me lol.

[rlmorel]

Here we go.

There have been a few hot threads on these “share the road” events in the past where things have happened.

[Thebaddog]

My concern is, in general, that bicycle riders obey the same traffic laws as motorized vehicles for everybody’s safety.

[RobRoy]

While bicycle commuting, I’ve been hit by three cars. I’ve never even gone down but the cars were badly scratched up. ‘Course, all of mine were cars taking right turns in front of me.

I confess I am queasy about bike commuting now. Thanks to cell phones it’s “always 2:00 Saturday morning”.

[rlmorel]

It is my understanding that some of them have become very confrontational...

[hoe_cake]

You live in Sudbury?

[RobRoy]

>>Glad he's okay, but title made me lol.<<

Someone's not sharing!

[Balding_Eagle]

Same crazy stuff here in CO, bike riders on hills and curves force motorists to the wrong side of the road.

Stories like this just show how foolish a lot of bike riders are.

The fact that it doesn’t happen more often is just more circumstantial proof of guardian angels.

[Celerity]

I always wanted to take my sportbike out on one of those picturesque bicycle trails.

Think they would share ?

[RobRoy]

Yep. I don’t remember which cyclist group it is, but one of them clog roads on purpose as part of their event. Really pisses off the drivers. When cycling, I like to avoid pissed off drivers.

Maybe it’s just me.

[rlmorel]

Actually, I am thinking of the “Critical Mass” events which happen in big cities like Portland, Seattle, San Franciso and New York, and are primarily populated by libtards who are out to make a point by blocking traffic and just being jerks.

I don’t know about the “Share the Road” campaign...

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I’m an avid cyclist, but for most cyclist “share the road” means “what out for us no matter how stupidly and blatantly we ignore the rules of the road”.

[chrisser]

My concern is, in general, that bicycle riders obey the same traffic laws as motorized vehicles for everybody’s safety.

I don't understand why cyclists appear to think themselves excempt from traffic laws. In my observations, they only stop for stop signs and stop lights when doing otherwise would be suicidal, they never signal to stop or turn, they refuse to stay in traffic lanes, and generally make nuisances of themselves.

I have no problems "sharing the road" with other types of vehicles, both larger and smaller than my own, but the "share the road" whining from cyclists rings hollow when what they, as a group, don't reciprocate with being responsible drivers.

[hoe_cake]

“It is my understanding that some of them have become very confrontational...”

some of them are so in-your-face, like they need to teach me a lesson.

I try to be cautious around cyclists, just sometimes I think they expect me to do all the work.

If I ever hit one, I'm suing him for mental anguish.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Get on a kid's toy and go play in traffic!

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

“what out” = watch out

[rlmorel]

Yeah, I got them mixed up. I am thinking of the Critical Mass people.

I ride bikes VERY defensively.

When I ride a bike, I ride as if every car approaching, passing or turning could do something that could result in injury to me. It isn’t a commentary on drivers, it is more a commentary on the fact that it doesn’t make a bit of difference if I am right or wrong, or that the driver didn’t see me or was being a jerk.

If I get hit by a car while riding a bike, that stuff won’t make any difference to my femur or skull...:(

[Retired Greyhound]

I’ve resisted many urges to run down cyclists in SoCal.

We have obnoxious ones here.

[rrrod]

Glad he is ok too...but have to confess when driving along and I see these clowns in their funny clothes...well never mind!

[Fred Hayek]

I am a competitive cyclist, and during most of my training rides I am wearing a team kit, with sponsors logos quite visible (the Toyota logo is the biggest). So if I violate the rules of the road, and manage not to get hit, the sponsors can still wind up getting an earful from whoever saw them blatantly break the rules. Some teams have kicked out members who can not follow the rules of the road.