Cyclist dies from accident injuries - Larry Schwartz; pedaled appx. 26,000 miles last year

The Dallas Morning News ^ | May 5, 2003

[MeekOneGOP]

Cyclist dies from accident injuries

05/05/2003

From Staff Reports

A well-known North Texas cyclist died Sunday, three days after he was hit by a school bus in Collin County.

Larry Schwartz, 42, of Wylie was biking east on FM1461 about 8:05 a.m. Thursday when the mirror of a passing eastbound school bus struck his head, knocking him to the ground.

The nationally known marathon cyclist was unconscious when he was taken by medical helicopter to the hospital.

Larry Schwartz

The bus driver, Robert Haynes, 40, was jailed on a felony charge of failure to stop and render aid, said Senior Cpl. Kent Paluga of the Texas Department of Public Safety. He was released Friday on $10,000 bond.

Mr. Schwartz pedaled approximately 26,000 miles last year, and became one of the nation's top endurance cyclists.

"I can't stop," he said in an interview in December. "This has been my best year yet."

With 7,612 miles this year, he was the leader in the Big Dogs Challenge, which charts the progress of the nation's endurance cyclists.

Bus driver Haynes, a three-year employee of Laidlaw Education Services, had delivered his students to Celina schools and was returning to the company's center in McKinney when the cyclist was struck, said Bob Thompson, Laidlaw branch manager.

Mr. Thompson said the driver had a "perfectly clean record" and passed a drug and alcohol screening at the company office before being taken into custody by a state trooper.

Information about Mr. Schwartz’s funeral has not been released.

Dallas Morning News reporter Roy Appleton and WFAA-TV (Channel 8) reporter Brad Watson contributed to this report.

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/050503dnmetcyclistkilled.255d4c24.html

[biblewonk]

Sidewalks are for pedestrians not bicyclists.

Not true.

I've been run into three times by bicyclists riding (way too fast) on sidewalks. Only one time did the individual involved even stop to see if I was OK. Its especially bad in the city, where this happened. Maybe in suburbs cycling on the sidewalk makes sense but not in cities.

I'm in Cedar Rapids Ia. which is nothing like a big city. Our tiny little down town area would not be a good place to bike on sidewalks. Outside of that 6x6 block area sidewalk biking is the norm. Even the bike cops keep off of 1st ave and stay on the side walks.

[hopespringseternal]

Houston just blew a whole big pile of federal money on bike lanes everywhere. The idiots who did it should be made to use the bike lanes they provided by reducing the size of the existing lanes without widening the road. You would have to be suicidal to try to use them. No one does.

[Forgiven_Sinner]

" Sidewalks are for pedestrians not bicyclists. I've been run into three times by bicyclists riding (way too fast) on sidewalks. Only one time did the individual involved even stop to see if I was OK. Its especially bad in the city, where this happened. Maybe in suburbs cycling on the sidewalk makes sense but not in cities."

Jerks. I always slow down and honk when I come upon pedestrians on a sidewalk. Riding on sidewalks is legal in Peoria, except for the down town area.

I still got hit (accident #1) while riding on sidewalks (crossing the street in front of a "stopped" car).

That said, I'd far rather ride on a sidewalk than a busy city street. And a busy country road is WORSE than a busy city street. They're usually narrower and with no berm (at least in Illinois).

The solution is a bike path or lane.

[ironman]

Biking is a great way to get to work if you have a safe route. I've commuted to work on bike for 15 years, about 7 months out of the year. Current round trip is about 25 miles. I used to have a 40 mile round trip. When I moved last year I made sure I had a safe route to my office. Sure my office could move, but I've been working in the same place for 10 years. I've only had one bad accident and I ride 5,000 - 7,000 miles a year. Car cut in front of me and I slammed into the passanger door. 7 broken ribs. And I never ever ride with out a helmet. If you ride a lot you will go down. I went down earlier this year - slipped out on some mud. Just some mile road rash.

[bikepacker67]

I just hope I am never faced with the choice of hitting a cyclist or a car head-on. The bicycle is in trouble.

How about just waiting to PASS SAFELY?

Is that too much to ask of you?

[null and void]

sad ping

[Aquinasfan]

Mr. Schwartz pedaled approximately 26,000 miles last year

On public roads, I guess. I wonder what the fatality rate/bicycle mile is? He was probably due.

OTOH, I had to get hit 3 times before I gave it up. I guess I was blessed.