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Traffic, road conditions endanger cyclists |
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Tuesday, 03 April 2007 |
by NICK IANNIELLO
News Reporter
Appalachian State University senior cyclist Graham R. McGinnis was riding March 23 with several other members of the Appalachian Cycling Team on Highway 321 when he hit a pothole in the road resulting in a serious accident.
Both bike tires went flat and McGinnis, along with his bike, flew off a bridge and fell about 15 feet to the creek below.
With help from Watauga County Rescue crews and the many members of the
Appalachian Cycling Club Team, McGinnis was removed from the river and
transported to the emergency room where he
learned he broke his back.
McGinnis is resting at home in Chapel Hill until he is able to return to classes.
This is not the only accident the Appalachian Cycling team has seen
this year. Along with several minor accidents, resulting only in “road
rash” and damaged equipment, senior President Travis R. Hurt was hit by
a car earlier this month, resulting in torn ligaments in his shoulder.
“Racing bikes is certainly dangerous,” Hurt said. “But the biggest threat is from cars while training.”
All of these accidents are in spite of the safety measures taken by the 54-member team.
Team members are required to follow all traffic laws in the same way a
car would. They also use hand signals for turns, and travel in no more
than double-file lines. The team is sponsored by Bell Helmets, and each
member is required to wear a helmet while riding in Appalachian gear.
Despite these efforts, cycling is often a dangerous activity.
“Some people don’t realize that a person riding a bike is a person and
not just an object on the side of the road,” Hurt said. “You can tell
that they just don’t think by the dangerous maneuvers that they make.”
The cycling team has several unscheduled rides for training purposes
throughout the week. Every Monday night they take a slow-paced ride
that is open to the entire community.
This ride meets at Espresso News and is designed to cater to riders of
all abilities. The Appalachian Cycling Team’s Web site threatens riders
who push the group’s pace with “the most untethered and violent verbal
thrashing ever conceived by man.”
So far, this year the Appalachian Cycling Team has placed second in the
Atlantic Coast Conference Division II mountain bike season and third in
Division II National Cyclocross season.
The team hopes to repeat as ACC champions and place within the top 10
in the nation for this year’s road-bike season, which is currently
underway.
For more information on the cycling team, visit www.appstatecycling.com.
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