More Bicyclists, Accidents on Lubbock Streets
By: Julie Musgrave
Updated: September 25, 2008
A young man is recovering tonight after being hit by a car while riding his bike. It happened just after 10 this morning. Witnesses say a woman was backing out of her driveway, and struck a man behind her who was riding a bicycle. The bicyclist only suffered minor injuries, but we're seeing a recurring trend here in Lubbock -- one that is putting a large number of cyclists danger.
We’ve seen three accidents like this in just the past two weeks. The scene this morning seems to be a common one here in Lubbock. Lately there have been an increased number of cyclists out on the road.
Local bike shops we spoke to say more people are trading in high gas prices for bikes, but that also means more possibility for dangerous accidents. It's harder for drivers to see cyclists, especially when moving at higher speeds. Stephen Davis with DFC Bike Shop says drivers have to be aware when on the roads to keep cyclists safe. But an accident like this – between cyclist and motorist -- it's always a two-way street.
“Motorists and cyclists both could help to fix this problem. You know, you go down the highway, you see deer signs. They have those for bicyclists, just not in Lubbock. If people just knew to look around more for them, it might help a lot,” said Davis.
Now, riders have to obey the exact same traffic laws as drivers, but Davis says many of them don't realize that. So in any case, no matter what role you play on the road, you should always be aware of your surroundings.
