tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4155039544820521548.post6248110691896188099..comments2024-03-26T08:39:46.290-04:00Comments on Hugh`s bicycle blog: Ride of Silence AnnArbor Mi 2010Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4155039544820521548.post-5700722584057323102010-05-24T09:00:23.506-04:002010-05-24T09:00:23.506-04:00Hey Jay,
Thanks for sharing your story. Sometimes ...Hey Jay,<br />Thanks for sharing your story. Sometimes I think It`s a miracle that any of us survived our youth. And I agree,We are all responsible for our own safety.And I also agree that we need to educate drivers, and other riders too.<br />I once saw a tee shirt that said on the back boldly "WE ARE TRAFFIC" And as this is true, We need to obey the same rules that we do when we drive. I rode motorcycles for well over 30 years. And I agree 100% with what you said, and I quote "but we also need to be sure to pay attention to our surroundings, and anticipate possible dangers"<br />That more than anything else will help get a cyclist home alive. <br /> Thanks, HughHughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12986498277947032639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4155039544820521548.post-1614976720986691682010-05-23T21:52:33.852-04:002010-05-23T21:52:33.852-04:00I didn't know about the ride of silence until ...I didn't know about the ride of silence until 2 or 3 years ago, when I happened to be in Ann Arbor while it was going on. I haven't participated, but I guess I should - I will try to make it to the Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti ride next year. If I do, I'll be wearing a red armband. The '72 Super Sport that I am currently working on was purchased to replace my Continental that got trashed in the accident that nearly killed me. In this case, though, it was not really the car drivers fault.<br /><br />I was 17, just out of high school, and riding in my first organized road race. As it turned out, it was also my last, at least so far. It was put on by the Ypsilanti Press (remember them?) - their first, and last, bike race, for reasons that will be obvious. There was a big turnout, of all ability levels. The police had been stopping traffic for the racers, but as the pack got spread out, they were no longer able to keep the intersections blocked for everyone. There was one group of really fast riders out in front, then a big gap, then me, then another big gap, and the rest of the riders, really spread out. For most of the race, I was able to get through the intersections on the heels of the serious riders, but when I arrived at Whittaker & Stony Creek Roads, the police had just left. I blew through, just as I had with the others, but there was a car coming. Just to complete the debacle, my father was there to watch me come through, and the driver of the car was a classmate from school.<br /><br /> I spent the next month in St. Joes, with a punctured lung, and 11 breaks in 8 ribs - my chest bounced off the windshield. Fortunately, in those days of no helmets, I escaped any serious head injuries.<br /><br />I guess the take-home lesson here is that we are all ultimately responsible for our own safety. We certainly need to educate drivers to be watchful for cyclists, but we also need to be sure to pay attention to our surroundings, and anticipate possible dangers<br /><br />Be safe, people..Jay Sinclairnoreply@blogger.com