Recent accidents of two high profile athletes Dave Scott and Greg Bennet. I recall a few other Colorado accidents posted in recent months and now the accident story on the ST front page. Is it a numbers thing as there are a lot of cyclists or are the drivers and/or cyclists not being carefull? I realize that accidents do occur everywhere.
I was thinking the same thing.
I’d be curious as to the top 5 cities with the most reported car vs. cyclist accidents. Seems like Colorado would be #1.
However, in today’s day and age of it’s all about me and I don’t have time for anyone else, I’m sure getting hit while riding is more common than we all think and would like it to be.
I might be opening myself up to a good bit of criticism here but…
IMO I think there are three key issues:
1- There are simply more cyclists on the roads. I went to school at CU, road on the CU cycling team, and have stayed in town for another 10 years. There are significantly more cyclists on the roads now, with a major increase in just the last 5 years.
2- In addition to the increase in cyclists there has been a huge increase in CO immigrants (or pilgrims as my teammates brother calls them). CO has been listed as one of the best places to move, best places to live, best places to find a job, etc. etc. for the past 5 or so years. So, in short we have a bunch of newby drivers who aren’t used to seeing cyclists on the roads (and tend to be pretty aggressive and pissy about the whole thing).
3- Lastly, and this is where my opinion comes in, I don’t have any real proof of this other than seeing it more and more. Too many people are riding in the aero bars when in town or a high traffic area. Yes, we have triathlon bikes, and we have aero bars etc. However, when you are in the aero position you’re about as far from the brakes as you can possibly be. Mix your average dumb ass/oblivious driver with an athlete riding in the aero position and the rider has little to no chance of avoiding the most common incidents like cars making a right turn in front of you, or someone trying to shoot the gap at an intersection.
I don’t think it is necessarily the cyclist fault for many of these accidents, but I honestly think many could be avoided if riders road on the bull horns with their hands on the brakes when in town, and basically expect every driver to do something stupid. I think people are getting to comfortable and confident within the bike lane and assume drivers will be aware of them.
Add to those three things, the fact that most drivers are eating, texting, talking on the phone, shaving, putting on make-up, or all of the above, and the cyclist really has to expect that every car is going to do something stupid.
That’s my take.
Jimmy
i was there training for the summer, was one of the accidents that epople are talking about, and i totally agree with everything y ousaid.
i saw more people riding like they were in a TT in the middle of town than i ever have in my life/
I am dying inside. The two people on the front page of ST are one of my best friends (Richard) and a friend and mountain bike racing teammate Julia!
We are having a huge benefit on 9/6 with tons of schwag to benefit Richard and Julia. Check the online auction for incredible things tri related that were donated for the cause.
Great reply! All of your points made perfect sense. One of your points regarding cyclist not necessarily at fault but should be more careful is well taken for all States. No matter who is at fault the cyclist loses.
After I posted this message I was hoping that people would not think I was accussing any of the recent accident victims of not being cautious. Most of the reports I have read seem to indicate that the cyclist were not at fault. Potential car versus bicycle accidents are probably the largest negative to riding.
Hey Zev can you send the link to the auction site please - thanks
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http://www.idonatetocharity.org/shop.php?username=recoveryfund
Check back in the future. AJ and Courtney have been very busy contacting businesses and individuals for support and more items should be available in the future. They’ll also have a lot available at a silent auction during the swim event on Sept 6
Actually Chattanooga had a crazy amount of incidents in the last 6 months or so. Three people killed (2 on a bike, one one a scooter) and several cyclists injured badly from what I recall.
Thanks again to Herbert for writing the story on my friends.
We are hosting a great fundraiser in Littleton Colorado next weekend (9/6/09) (as seen on Mile High Multisport website)
Fundraiser for Julia & Richard
Let’s Join Forces to Help Our Fellow Triathletes in Need
When the triathlon community joins together…anything can be accomplished!
Two triathletes suffered extensive injuries in a collision with a vehicle during a training bike ride on Saturday, August 22, 2009. Julia Purrington and Richard Paradis were hospitalized in the ICU with traumatic injuries to multiple areas of their bodies.
Julia and Richard deserve our prayers and support. As triathletes, let’s do what we love to do and make a difference for Julia and Richard. Keep your training intact and join the triathlon community for an open water swim race on Saturday, September 6th, 2009, at Grant Ranch. 100 % of the proceeds will be donated to the care funds established in Julia’s and Richard’s names.
Race details:
Date: September 6, 2009
Time: Registration at 7AM, race at 8AM
Swim distances: ½ mile, 1 mile, 2 mile, 3 mile
Location: Grant Ranch, 7255 West Grant Ranch Blvd, Littleton, CO 80123
Cost: $25 (100% directed to Julia’s and Richard’s care funds)
Music and refreshments will be provided. There is no prerace registration. Just show up on 9/6, sign up, swim and help our fellow triathletes in their time of dire need. The award for this event will be knowing you graciously supported Julia and Richard when they needed it.
There will also be a silent auction at the race site and an online auction. Why not get your triathlon essentials from a trusted source and help Julia and Richard. Some of the sponsors and offers include:
-
Entry into any Challenge Event (International destinations) -
Somnio shoes including gait analysis from the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine, includes domestic airfare and 1 night at the St. Julien -
1 round of golf at the Denver Country Club for you and a friend with Rich Kylberg. A rare opportunity to play this unbelievable private course.
· $100 gift certificate from Bicycle Village
· Saris trainer
· 2 entries to the Chilly Cheeks Series provided by Darrin Eisman
· 4 - six month subscriptions to beginnertriathlete.com
· Great products from GU, Specialized, Yankz and USAT
-
A round of Golf at the Denver Country Club with Rich Kylberg
If you are not able to attend the race or would like to make an additional donation, please follow these links to support Julia and Richard:
Richard Paradis Donations for Dime
c/o First Bank of Denver
370 17th Street
Denver, CO 80202
or paypal to: donationsfordime@gmail.com
Julia Purrington Recovery Fund
c/o Evergreen National Bank
P.O. Box 2020
Evergreen, CO 80437
Here is a personal view of Julia and Richard.
Julia Purrington is a USAT Certified Level I Coach. She is a former High
School and Collegiate swimmer with over 15 years of competitive swimming
experience. Julia began competing in Triathlons in 2005 and has since
competed in over 50 races ranging from Sprint Triathlons to Marathons and
Ironman Triathlons. In 2007 She was a member of Team USA and qualified to
compete in the ITU Age Group World Championships for Short Course (Olympic
Distance) Triathlon, and has been selected to compete with Team USA again in
2009 In Gold Coast Australia in September. In 2008 she finished her first
Ironman in Lake Placid with a time of 11:13. Her training and race
experience has been invaluable in her coaching career. She is also a USA
Swimming Certified Coach and is the assistant coach of the Evergreen
Hurricanes and head swim coach for the Mount Vernon Country Club summer
team. She has been coaching the Evergreen Recreation Center Masters swim
team for 2 years. She is a wife, mother of two boys, a professional engineer, owner of two businesses, a triathlon coach and the kindest person you’ll ever meet.
Dick Dime (a.k.a. Richard Paradis) is an exceptional Colorado runner, cyclist, triathlete and snowshoe racer. He is also a snowboarder, a punk rocker, a pirate (not really), a PBR lover, a vegetarian, a great friend and a loving Dad. He gives his whole heart to everything he ever does, whether it’s trail running with his dog Ramone, training for an Ironman, booking rock bands, running a bar or a vintage store.
Dick Dime likes to say that he is a man-child and that he will never grow up.
His athletic accomplishments include 3rd in 40-44 AG in 5430 Long Course Triathlon in Boulder Colorado, a 2:52 marathon, a 1:17 half marathon, placing overall in many local races. You can find more details about his race results on his Athlinks Page
On August 22, 2009, during a training ride for Ironman 70.3 World Championships, Richard was involved in a really bad car-bike accident. He suffered a serious head injury. The road to recovery will be long. Richard doesn’t have health insurance or close family to take care of him but his awesome group of friends are by his side. Their care as well as the support of the triathlon community has been remarkable so far, but he will need a lot more help and support going forward and making his way back to a full recovery.
Your support is sincerely appreciated and we hope to see you on September 6th.
On Line Auction/Silent Auction
An online auction has been established and a silent auction will be held on the day of the race. We are in the process of collecting items from numerous supporters in the triathlon community. If you are interested in donating to either the silent auction to the on line auction please contact A.J. Johnson.
You can view the online auction by clicking here. Items will be updated weekly so please check back.
Thank you in advance for your support and generosity. Special thanks to the Grant Ranch Homeowners Association for the free use of their facilities for this event. PLEASE FORWARD THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW IN THE MULTI-SPORT COMMUNITY.
Peter S. Alfino, President Mile High Multisport
Mile High Multisport, LLC
www.milehighmultisport.com
Totally agree. My solution is to ride very defensively, and to assume that every car on the road doesn’t see me. Even if I’m out doing intervals, every time I approach an intersection, even when I have right-of-way, I sit up and get my hands ready to jam on the breaks. There are just too many horrible stories of accidents to take any chances.
It sucks, but as another poster mentioned - unfortunately, in the end, it doesn’t really matter who is technically at fault for the collision because the cyclist always loses.
Glad that Dave Scott and Greg Bennett appear to be recovering well. Now let’s just hope that Dick Dime comes back as strong (and hardcore!) as ever.
We all hope that Julia and Richard make full, speedy recoveries. Does anyone have the details of how this accident happened? (Just curious, not looking to blame ANYONE).
Does anyone find it a little hard to believe that Richard does not have health insurance? He sounds like the kind of person that trains very hard and is smart about his training.
I guess rather than asking why he did not have health insurance, I would like to encourage everyone to make sure that they are covered - especially with all of the recent news about bike accidents, triathlon swim deaths, and reported heart problems.
If you say that “I can’t afford it”, think about your next race entry fee, bike cost, event travel costs and PLEASE adjust your priorities.
There are simply more cyclists on the roads.
Yep. My normal long weekend ride is Golden to Hygiene and back. I am always amazed at the number of people cycling up there. I mean there are literally 100s of people in packs of 1 to 10 all over the place! Given that I think the roads north of boulder are a very safe place to ride generally. Once you get in town, not so much. All of my accidents have been in town. It’s best to ride <9th street to get across town if possible IMO.
We all hope that Julia and Richard make full, speedy recoveries. Does anyone have the details of how this accident happened? (Just curious, not looking to blame ANYONE). A group of friends were riding and plit off into two groups just before the accident. Richard and Julia were ahead and slowed to cross at an intersection. Apparently the light was yellow while they were in the cross walk, and a woman made a left turn at speed right into them. Richard went into the windshield; Julia flew something like 20 feet and landed on her back.
Does anyone find it a little hard to believe that Richard does not have health insurance? He sounds like the kind of person that trains very hard and is smart about his training. You don’t know him so I don’t know why you would make this statement. He had been laid off from his job last month and was about to start another one. I am not sure why there is a gap in his coverage (which I would have lent the money for if needed), and unfortunately I cannot ask him as of this point.
I guess rather than asking why he did not have health insurance, I would like to encourage everyone to make sure that they are covered - especially with all of the recent news about bike accidents, triathlon swim deaths, and reported heart problems. Good point, as the insurance from the woman who hit Richard and Julia will never be able to cover their expenses.
If you say that “I can’t afford it”, think about your next race entry fee, bike cost, event travel costs and PLEASE adjust your priorities.
being a poor athlete is always a challenge and one of the first expenses that tends to get cut is insurance, a big mistake. an accident happens so quickly and unexpectedly and can happen even if you’re riding alone and you have a blow out on a descent.
(and another example why we need health care reform—everyone should have access to quality care at an affordable cost.)
Willrace,
I meant no disrespect about him not having medical insurance. If he was laid off a month ago, he should still be able to get COBRA coverage (I think you have 90 or 180 days to start it). It is fairly expensive, but not nearly as much as his medical bills will be.
Also, usually if your employer offers you insurance, it is pre-paid for a month (IE - August insurance was paid for in July). Might be worth looking into.
Thank you. He was doing some sort of self pay insurance, and it is not clear why Richard ended up with a gap in his coverage. I am just sorry the transition to his pending job didn’t happen faster…there was a lot of phone tag involved. Now we have to try to make the aftermath as easy as possible; and with this crazy health/legal system, the money has to be carefully segregated from Richard’s assets.