CBN Volunteer Mark hauls a huge load of bicycles over to MEC for Bikes Without Borders.
tino : 16 years 9 months ago
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Please find below a statement written Michael Heilbronn - sent to me by his son Tovi - about the weekly Donut Rides in Toronto.
From Wikipedia:
The tour was first organized in 1976 as the team ride of the Scarborough Cycling Club, affiliated with a bike store in Scarborough, two of the primary organizers being Roger Keiley and Barry Hastings. As the ride grew in popularity it moved to a new starting point more centralized in Toronto, although still somewhat east of the core. It remained associated with a bike store for some time, and was insured by the Ontario Cycling Association. A serious accident in the 1990s led to the entire group being sued, and since then the ride is completely unofficial.
Sad to say it's not the first time I have heard of crashes on this ride. I know there are many roadies who are very passionate about this ride. I know many people who have been on this touring ride for years. I have never tried it. Seemed too dangerous. Sadly the safety issues of this ride go beyond speed, inexperience or cars. Sometimes we are our own worst enemies.
HOW MANY CYCLING VICTIMS WILL IT TAKE?
Nothing prepared me for this. During fifty years of cycling, I feared danger from motor vehicles, but never from another cyclist. I was wrong.
It happened this Labour Day, Monday September 2nd, a perfect cycling day. I headed out from my home in the Bathurst and Lawrence neighborhood of the city about 8:30 a.m. and proceeded along a 100 kilometer route I regularly cycle: north on Keele Street, east along 17th Sideroad, south on Dufferin Street, east again on 15th Sideroad and through a residential area. I arrived at my rest location, a coffee shop / deli at the intersection of Yonge Street and King Road.
After enjoying a short rest and energy-replenishing snacks, I prepared myself to continue my ride. Just then, the Toronto Donut Ride also stopped here for their rest. The Donut Ride is an informal road cycling group, who ride every Saturday, Sunday and public holiday. A typical summer ride includes over 100 cyclists. The ride is well known for being fast paced, often reaching speeds of 50 km/h.
Here I met my son, who is known in the race cycling community, and was riding with this group as he occasionally does. We chatted briefly and arranged that I would proceed on my own and when the group caught up with me, he would leave the Donut Ride and join me so we could cycle together.
I did head off alone, cycled north on Yonge, east on Bloomington Road and south on Leslie Street. I was only a short distance south of Bloomington on Leslie when small groups of two or three cyclists from the Donut Ride zoomed by. I knew that the peloton would be passing me at any moment and therefore kept to the extreme right of the road. My son spotted me and left the peloton to join me as we had planned. I never considered myself in danger and fully expected the Donut Ride to pass me safely and respectfully. I was wrong. Suddenly one rider in the pack zoomed by too closely and overlapped my front wheel causing me to crash. And he just kept going.
After I crashed, some riders in the group stopped. My son rushed to my side thoroughly distraught. Some cyclists with cell phones called ‘911’. The York Regional Police and the EMS Ambulance quickly arrived on the scene. The paramedics immediately established that I had a concussion since I could not remember my name, my address, or where I was. They strapped me to a special board, as a precaution for possible neck and/or spinal injuries, and rushed me to York Central Hospital for emergency medical treatment.
As a result of the crash, I suffered physical and psychological traumas including: a concussion, a broken collar-bone fractured in 4 places, four broken ribs, and deep lacerations to my leg and shoulder. My helmet saved me from possible head injuries and brain damage.
I have suffered grievously for the past three months: I underwent orthopedic surgery to repair my collar-bone; I required the daily visit of a wound-care nurse to tend to my leg and shoulder lacerations; and, now I undergo extensive physiotherapy with no assurance of regaining full functionality in my left arm. In addition, as an independent consultant, I have suffered financially, being unable to earn any income for three months.
All my pain, suffering, and financial distress were caused that morning by a cyclist in the Donut Ride. Neither that cyclist nor anyone else in that group has contacted me to express an apology, interest in my recovery, or compassion for a fellow cyclist.
I have always considered Toronto’s cycling community a real community, caring for and supporting each other. But they utterly failed me. We cyclists must ask ourselves, “Is there really a cycling community?”
Almost daily we read about confrontations between cyclists and motorists. But who is paying attention to the injuries cyclists cause other cyclists? It is time for the Donut Ride specifically and the greater cycling community to reflect on our compliance with the rules of the road, our courtesy, respect and concern for the safety of our fellow riders….. ……before there are more victims.
Michael Heilbronn
tino : 16 years 9 months ago
The Bike Writers Collective of Los Angeles came up with a Cyclists' Bill of Rights a few months ago. They claim that cyclists already have all these rights, but they wanted to spell it out. None, I suspect, should be controversial except perhaps the claim that cyclists and their bikes have the right to use mass transit with no limitations. Even during rush hour? On any bus or subway car? A radical idea.
The Bill of Rights has become a rallying cry for different groups in L.A. and now is before city council as a resolution.
WHEREAS, cyclists have the right to ride the streets of our communities and this right is formally articulated in the California Vehicle Code; and
WHEREAS, cyclists are considered to be the “indicator species” of a healthy community; and
WHEREAS, cyclists are both environmental and traffic congestion solutions; and
WHEREAS, cyclists are, first and foremost, people - with all of the rights and privileges that come from being members of this great society; and
NOW, THEREFORE, WE THE CYCLING COMMUNITY, do hereby claim the following rights:
1) Cyclists have the right to travel safely and free of fear.
2) Cyclists have the right to equal access to our public streets and to sufficient and significant road space.
3) Cyclists have the right to the full support of educated law enforcement.
4) Cyclists have the right to the full support of our judicial system and the right to expect that those who endanger, injure or kill cyclists be dealt with to the full extent of the law.
5) Cyclists have the right to routine accommodations in all roadway projects and improvements.
6) Cyclists have the right to urban and roadway planning, development and design that enable and support safe cycling.
7) Cyclists have the right to traffic signals, signage and maintenance standards that enable and support safe cycling.
8) Cyclists have the right to be actively engaged as a constituent group in the organization and administration of our communities.
9) Cyclists have the right to full access for themselves and their bicycles on all mass transit with no limitations.
10) Cyclists have the right to end-of-trip amenities that include safe and secure opportunities to park their bicycles.
11) Cyclists have the right to be secure in their persons and property, and be free from unreasonable search and seizure, as guaranteed by the 4th Amendment.
12) Cyclists have the right to peaceably assemble in the public space, as guaranteed by the 1st Amendment.
And further, we claim and assert these rights by taking to the streets and riding our bicycles, all in an expression of our inalienable right to ride!
herb : 16 years 9 months ago
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