We recently posted about Gaige Sippy, an Amarillo-area man who inadvertently hit and killed a bicyclist.  A grand jury has decided not to issue an indictment.  Here is a link to the TV story -

http://www.newschannel10.com/Global/story.asp?S=13049464

Last Saturday, 24-year-old Gaige Sippy was driving southbound on US 87 in the right lane. Amarillo resident Cynthia Whitney was riding her bike in the right lane of US 87 south of Canyon. She was riding with a group, three abreast, from Canyon to Happy.  Mr. Sippy said that he became distracted when he reached down to pick up a cell phone he had dropped.  After looking back up, he said that he was unable to avoid the collision.  Ms. Whitney was struck from behind and thrown to the shoulder.  She did not survive the crash. Ms. Whitney was a long-time cycling advocate.

A man in Port Arthur, riding a bicycle, died as a result of a hit-and-run crash.  The driver of the vehicle that hit him apparently ran a stop sign and then hit the man.  Here is a link to a brief article -

http://panews.com/local/x383287500/Man-on-bicycle-dies-from-hit-and-run 

Anyone who rides a bike in the White Rock Lake area in Dallas, and who uses the current trail crossing Northwest Highway, has noticed the ongoing Northwest Highway construction.  The construction had been until now just a nuisance.  However, the construction it now likely to make riding more dangerous for some riders.

Bike riders riding the trail approaching White Rock Lake from the north currently cross Northwest Highway at West Lawther.  However, the crossing will be moved for approximately two years, so that those north-south riders will be forced to cross Northwest Highway at Buckner.  The trip from the current trail to Buckner is fraught with significant risk.  Take a look at this Channel 8 story -

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Dallas-cyclists-bemoan-White-Rock-detour-97538189.html

The owner of Runtex, an Austin business, is displaying a large banner to raise the public’s awareness of bicyclists.  The banner is partly in remembrance of Gay Simmons Posey, an Austin woman who was killed on Loop 360 while riding ber bicycle in triathlon training.  A car ran over Posey and killed her, and the car never stopped.

According to the Texas Bicycle Coalition, an average of 50 bicyclists are killed while riding in Texas each year.  Here is a link to the article about the banner -

http://www.kvue.com/news/local/Cyclists-Death-Anniversary-91077144.html

A Parker County grand jury has declined to indict a woman who allegedly hit and killed a 55-year old bicycle rider.  The bike rider was purportedly hit and killed while riding on an I-20 service road in Willow Park, Texas.  Grand jurors decided not to indict the driver for criminally negligent homicide.  A co-worker of the slain man, and a fellow-cyclist, denounced the grand jury’s decision.  Here is a link to a related article in the Fort Worth Star Telegram -

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/03/31/2081870/parker-county-grand-jury-no-bills.html

I served as a crossing guard when I was in elementary school.  I remember little about it, other than we (as kids) garnered little respect from motorists.  I have not seen (for good reason) a child crossing guard in years.

Let’s state the obvious – a pedestrian is no match for a car, truck, bus, or motorcycle.  A collision between a pedestrian and any vehicle can cause serious injury or death.  As pedestrians, we need to watch closely when approaching or crossing a street.  One of the first things that we as parents teach our kids is to stay out of the street.  Then, when they are old enough to cross a street, we tell them to look both ways before crossing.  As adults, we at times forget the lessons we teach.  Last night, I saw an adult run with about four or five kids across a 4-lane street.  They were not at a crosswalk, and there was significant traffic.  Sheesh.

As drivers, our responsibilities related to pedestrians are even more important.  We are those controlling the movement of, at times, vehicles weighing several thousand pounds.  We should always yield to pedestrians.

Here are some sites to assist with our pursuit of safety, and avoidance of injury, with kids, crosswalks, and adult pedestrians -

Texas law for yielding to a pedestrian -

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_Texas_Law_for_yielding_to_a_pedestrian

Crosswalk safety rules for kids -

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/426706/crosswalk_safety_essentials_for_school.html?cat=27

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Pedestrian Safety Program -

http://www.nhtsa.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.dfedd570f698cabbbf30811060008a0c/

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Riding a bicycle is a great way to get in shape or just to enjoy the outdoors.  Many of us started with training wheels, until we learned to balance a bike on our own.  We then graduated to whatever type of bike we liked at a young age.  I had the obligatory first bike, mass-produced and likely purchased at a department store.  When I was older, I had motorcross and 10-speed bikes.  I learned how to build a bike beginning with just a frame, and the knowledge served me well as a bike rider.  However, I learned from my experiences and the experiences of friends that bikes can be dangerous.

There are so many different bikes on the market that it is difficult to know which are the safest.  It is best to start with the manufacturer.  It is a new company, or has it been around for awhile?  Does it build bikes in a garage, or does it appear to have a well-thought-out manufacturing and quality control process?  What do bike dealers, who sell lots of different types of bikes, say about the brand?

Even if you buy what is initially a safe bike, the bike might become dangerous over time.  Bikes need maintenance.  While you might be able to perform some maintenance on your own, you should still take your bike to a qualified bike mechanic on a regular basis.  He or she might point out things of which you were unaware and suggest replacement of what you thought were parts that were working well.

Don’t become a casualty to a faulty bike.  Severe injury can result from a poorly-manufactured or maintained bike.  Here are some sites to give a start to your quest for bike safety -

Bicycle and Bike Equipment Recalls -

http://bicycleuniverse.info/eqp/recalls.html

Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls Page -

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html