Posted on 10/15/2007 8:58:36 AM PDT by MissEdie
Society Hill is about 20 miles from me. Never heard reports of this.
The fact that the father was leading the pack and obviously had already travelled thru this dangerous stretch amkes him more responsible than anyone.
If it was really unsafe, he should have gone back to warn others including his kids.
Does anyone know, was the son injured?
I agree...I was just pointing out that quoting 4 words is the way “they” do it, not us.
I think a part of the problem was it was a tandem. I've never ridden one, but those out there who have, I'm interested to hear you reason against they are less safe than individual bikes. Sure they look cute but keep them off tricky roads. You're probably right though and an over-reaction will be the likely result.
Could you imagine an event like the running of the bulls in the states?
anytime! I still can’t figure out the “no charges”
The truck was pulling a trailer ... that was filled with settlement fees earned by John Edwards.
(sarcasm off)
I’m a 13 ride MS Tour veteran. Traffic control has always been from volunteers. The chapter I ride for used to use the National Guard, but they are kinda busy right now. It is always the cyclists responsibility to take care of his own traffic control.
What tour do you do?
I do the Michigan one.
If you’d like I can PM you a power point I just gave on bike safety with current accident stats. The spandex crew might be able to change your mind.
Houston to Austin.
186 miles and 12,000+ riders.
I helped work a couple of rides like this for the MS Society and other charities in central Virginia back in the ‘90s, as part of an amateur radio club providing communication support at the rest stops and “sag wagons.” Normally the routes for rides like this were intentionally kept off US highways as much as possible, and kept to state highways or (preferably) county roads with lower traffic. That having been said, there was little to no traffic control in place. The local jurisdictions and the Virginia State Police knew the ride was happening, and knew about when and where the bulk of the riders would be coming through, but other than that, safe riding was the responsibility of the bikers. And yes, they signed releases.
On rare occasions, the sag wagons (vans/trucks to pick up folks who want to drop out) would sit back and hold up traffic for exceptionally slow riders or in dangerous areas, but that was very uncommon, because we were told that we could get ticketed for it. Likewise, we were told that no matter what, we had to obey all traffic laws and could not drive with our warning flashers on. The bicyclists were also told that they had to obey all traffic laws, especially riding single-file. They never did. I lost count of the number of times I saw riders three- and four-abreast on blind curves, almost daring some 18-wheeler to blast around the corner from behind them and turn them into bugs on its grille.
We did have riders get in trouble in certain areas, mostly in the mountains. One charity ride was coming down US 501 north of Lynchburg, which is a steep and twisty two-lane, when a rider locked up his front brake, slammed into the outer guardrail, and went thirty feet down an embankment. The good news was, he landed on a stump, and that was the only thing that kept him from a four-hundred-foot roll down a mountain. The bad news was, he broke his pelvis when he landed (along with slashing himself open on the guardrail as he went over). That same ride had somebody else go off into a rocky creekbed at 40 mph...he wasn’t seriously hurt, and all he cared about was his bike. I took him his stuff (broken sunglasses, dented helmet, etc.) at the hospital and ran into his wife, who said nothing else but “oh, he does this all the time!” Oookaaaayy.
}:-)4
If bike are going to ride on roads then the operators need to pass the same driving test and be licensed just as automobile operators.
Houston to Austin.
Hotter’n Hundred = Hotter’n Hell Hundred
No, friends have. Not me not in middle of summer in Texas.
I see your new attorney Edwards in my rear view mirror.
Wow, 12,000 cyclists.
All that spandex would drive resolute conservative right into the loony bin.
Our is about 1,000 riders but I just heard that we crossed $1,000,000 raised for the year.
The 2008 Houston to Austin MS 150 registration filled up in three days. They say it has the most riders of any MS 150. The ride has great support but is very crowded is some spots along the route.
When I first moved there, I went to a Bike club meeting and there were member's missing arms and legs from being run over during group rides.
I said "screw that" and took up auto racing as hobby, because it's much safer.
Only if it includes a way I can ride a bike without causing male sensitive area irritations on those darn seats.
Not a problem.
Get a pair of spandex shorts with a gel liner or even better a natural chamois. Then get a split seat designed for men. The split seat isolates the cyatic nerve and prevents numbing.
BTW, I’m the father of four so everything works.
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