By Dieter Zimmerer, Guest Columnist
Dieter Zimmerer
I love to cycle for my health and to enjoy the beauty that surrounds us.
However, recently I felt that cycling may be bad for my health and may even cause me to die prematurely.
Why? Unfortunately, some people believe the health and life of a cyclist is not very important.
Just a few weeks ago, I had a white Jeep Wrangler almost run me over. I had given clear signs to the driver not to pass me, but he chose to pass me on the right-hand side, almost running me over, which would have caused some serious injuries. Just a few weeks later, another car almost ran me of the road.
As a cyclist, I am more aware of what could endanger a cyclist.
- Passing a cyclist too close will cause a startling effect on the cyclist, making him/her to wobble and maybe even land in the ditch, which happened to me almost a few years back. I was cycling down a hill going 25-30 mph as an older gentlemen passed me at a very close distance. To my right was a deep ditch lined with big rocks, and just about 20 feet ahead was a large bolder.
As I got startled, I got into a wobble and saw myself already hitting the rocks and the bolder, causing severe injuries or even death to me. Thank God I was able to stabilize the bike and escape the dangerous situation.
- Vehicles create turbulence behind them. These turbulence can be so strong that it can cause the cyclist to wobble and have an accident. Thankfully, it has never happened to me, but it did to a friend of mine.
Cyclists have the same right to be on the road like any other vehicle – just like a car, truck or slow moving tractor. Passing a cyclist should be done in a way that is safe for the driver and the cyclist. Just treat the cyclist the way you would treat them if they were a child or other beloved family member of yours.
Want to know what it feels like having an accident with a bicycle? Ask someone to drive you down the road going 20-30 mph while you are in your undergarment, then open the door and let yourself fall out. Cyclists usually don’t have more protection than that with their cycling cloth.
An estimated 1,105 bicyclists were killed in traffic accidents across the United States in 2022 – a staggering 13% spike from 2021’s tally of 935.
Many cyclists, including me, have installed cameras to record the reckless driving of others, which can and will be used in prosecution.
Let’s show courtesy and treat each other the way we would like to be treated.
The writer is a resident of Andrews who can often be seen riding through different parts of Cherokee County.