U.S. bike tour promotes bicycle safety
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Bicyclists are becoming a more familiar site along the roadways as gas prices continue to drive people to look for alternate means of transportation. It may seem inevitable, then, that there will be accidents involving motor vehicles and bikes.
Pearson Constantino is a victim of one such hit-and-run accident. The New York resident is a life-long cyclist, learning bike safety at the hands of his father and older brother. He’d racked up tens of thousands of miles on the seat of a bike when he was struck by an SUV in June 2006. The accident threw Constantino into the side of a parked SUV, where he became wedged underneath it. He suffered multiple severe injuries, including a shattered hip, crushed lumbar vertabra and head trauma. The helmet he was wearing saved his life.
Two years and two surgeries later, plagued by constant pain, Constantino is riding again and has undertaken a new challenge with his brother, Pete. The pair began a 3,500-mile cross country trek in August. The journey began in Newport, Ore., and the brothers traveled from Lusk, Wyo., to Chadron Tuesday. They plan to spend today, Sept. 3, in Chadron and head to Valentine tomorrow.
The journey is about more than reclaiming his favorite pastime; the brothers hope to encourage others to discover the joys of biking and to educate motorists and bicyclists alike on how to share the road safely. The Constantinos are traveling along Highway 20 from West to East coast, ending the trip in October in Boston, Mass.
Despite the ever-present pain he endures, Constantino is determined to recapture the sense of freedom he has always felt on the seat of a bike. The brothers chose Highway 20 because they grew up near the route in the New York Finger Lakes area. As teens, they and their father cycled Highway 20 from their home in Skaneateles to Cape Cod, Mass., which inspired them to someday cycle the entire transcontinental “Main Street of America.”
Along the way, Constantino has spoken to schools, cycle organizations and communities about his experiences and bicycle safety to raise awareness of the issues. The trip is also the subject of a documentary film, “The Long Bike Back.”
For more information on the Constantino brothers and their journey, visit www.longbikeback.com.
Bicycle Safety Tips
Tips for Bicyclists
Obey traffic signs and signals
Never ride against traffic
Don’t weave between parked cars
Follow lane markings
Don’t pass on the right
Keep both hands ready to brake.
Never ride with headphones n Wear a helmet
Use hand signals
Ride in middle of lane in slow traffic
Choose the best way to turn left n like an auto or like a pedestrian
Make eye contact with drivers
Avoid road hazards
Use lights at night
Keep bike in good repair
Tips for Motorists
Reduce your speed when passing a cyclist
Don’t blast your horn, it could startle them
Recognize situations and obstacles that may be hazardous to cyclists (potholes, drain grates) and give them room to maneuver
Do not pass cyclists if oncoming traffic is near. Wait as you would with any slow-moving vehicle.
In bad weather, give cyclists extra trailing and passing room, just as you would any other motorist.
Give at least three feet of passing space between the right side of your vehicle and the cyclist.
After passing, check over your shoulder before moving back over. Many experienced riders are going faster than you think.
When turning left at an intersection, yield to oncoming bicyclists just as you would to any other motorist.
After parking check for cyclists before opening your car door.
Children on bicycles are often unpredictable n expect the unexpected.
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