Is anything more harrowing than riding a bike around the streets of Dallas/Fort Worth? The fact is, most of Texas is car-friendly, not pedestrian or bike-friendly. For those of you who exercise around your city streets and neighborhoods, you know the danger is real.
Last week, I was saddened to see that three bike riders were injured, and one was killed when they were struck from behind by a car. All four were parishioners from Lake Church and were riding together on Dottie Lynn Parkway in Fort Worth when the accident happened.
One of those seriously injured was an Arlington police officer Alan Branch. He remains hospitalized after several surgeries and may need more. The other two suffered minor injuries.
I ride my bicycle on city streets regularly (not so much by choice but by necessity). I am aware of a significant number of cyclists who have been hit by side view mirrors sticking out from vehicles, particularly large pickup trucks. Several of these cyclists have been killed because of the head injuries sustained.
So yes, bicycling on roadways can be hazardous, but the cyclists have rights—and those rights consist of entitlement to the roadway just as much as a car or truck is entitled to its lane of traffic.
Cyclists are more than nuisances on the roads, they are people with rights to use the roads, and others have a duty to respect those rights. To the driver who refuses to share the road … the results of failing to do so can not only be catastrophic but also expose drivers to significant liability.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the cyclist who was killed, as well as Officer Branch. Please be safe out there! And if you’re in a car or truck, please stay alert for bike riders.
