(Posted 1/4/2008) - Letter From George Rice, friend of the late Tom Hoskins:

There aren't many cyclists who venture out cycling without their
sunglasses. “Rose-colored glasses” is a term used to describe
something that inhibits us to see things for what they truly are. I
had rose-colored glasses on when I first thought about the value of
membership in groups like the Palmetto Cycling Coalition. I had the
selfish agenda of WIIFM (What's In It For Me)?

On October 21, 2007, lives were changed forever. A century ride
turned into what I hoped was a horrible dream. Since that day,
families, friends, and cyclists have celebrated the lives of two
people who put aside selfish ambition to bring light to the tragedies
of brain injuries. Tom Hoskins and Lee Ann Barry logged hundreds of
miles for the benefit of others. Lee Ann wore a jersey on that
beautiful, sunny day, embossed with “Spoke n’ Word.” A church in
Kentucky gave it to her. I did a Google search using Spoken Word and
one web site that came up was the University of Central Florida
Bicycle Team. A member of their cycling team died after being struck
on his bicycle the same day, October 21, 2007.

A year prior, I stood in a line of 2000 bicyclists, waiting to finish
the second day of the MS ride. We learned of the death of Rachael,
who died cycling for the benefit of others. Like others, I have to
live with being one of the cyclists who survived. I now know the
pain others have felt as they tried to revive someone they had been
drafting for or being pulled by earlier in the day.

My high school band performed "One Voice" during our field show. The
words include "just one voice, singing in the darkness, all it takes
is one voice. If you venture to the PCC website and click on links,
you will see rows of bike clubs and bike shops. One hour of your
time during 2008 may save the life of a cyclist. One hour writing
letters to politicians, one hour sitting in a hearing room with your
favorite cycling jersey on, or one hour encouraging someone to keep
peddling on their first ride, will make a difference.
Prior to October 21, 2007, I didn't see it that way. I was too busy
having pitty parties because of the heat, the steep hills, or the
lack of a water stop.

You and I can name someone who lived through a bicycle/vehicle
collision, or died from the collision. Take a moment, fill out a PCC
application in appreciation for that saved life or in memory of that
life because your one voice singing in the darkness can make a
difference.

(November 2007)  Another one of Tom & Lee Ann's friend writes:

There is no question that riding a bike, like many other activities, is inherently dangerous. But with at least some modicum of care, the tragedy that struck a rural highway recently and took the lives of two dedicated cyclists could have been avoided.

I have visited the site of the accident where my good friends Tom Hoskins and Lee Anne Barry died. I was astonished by what I saw. Tom and Lee Anne were traveling UPHILL on a four lane road (separated by grass median). Based on the investigation markings, they were either in the emergency lane or riding as far over to the right as they could. More importantly, they were visible on a clear, sunny day for a significant distance before they were hit. Despite circumstances that could not have been better for cars to avoid them by simply passing in the left lane and giving these cyclists more than enough room to continue safely on their way, this careless and/or distracted driver ran them down.

If folks who get behind the wheel would give their full attention to the task at hand—driving—rather than talking on the cell phone, playing with the radio, lighting cigarettes, eating, or any other distraction, Tom and Lee Anne might be enjoying the holidays with their families like the rest of us.



(November 2007)  Steve R. writes:

Negligent Homicide - and with that charge, 3 lives have ended, 2 literally, 1 figuratively. For how does one live with the fact that through carelessness, distraction, negligence, you were responsible for ending the lives of two parents, friends, cyclists. I don’t know, and I pray no one else would ever have to find out. I’m a cyclist and but for the grace of God, my wife could have been the widow.

The death of cyclists Tom Hoskins and Lee Anne Barry led to the predictable cry for South Carolina to improve cycling safety. In addition, there was a cyclist procession at the funeral to raise awareness of this issue. I hope both messages are heard and acted upon by the State legislator.

But what surprised me was the letters to The State Newspaper telling cyclists to just stay off the roads because they are unsafe. Unfortunately, the letters were inaccurate in that it’s not the roads that are unsafe; it’s the driver’s actions on the road that is unsafe. Could the roads be improved? Sure.

But how does one classify riding within the state laws, on a 4 lane divided highway hosting a charity bike ride, as “unsafe”? How does one classify riding up a hill on that ride where one can be seen from a mile away by approaching cars as “unsafe”? The police report didn’t classify it as unsafe. They instead charged the driver with Negligent Homicide.

We live in a State were “obesity” and “carbon pollution” have become common terms, things we want to reduce. We live in a State where our Governor promotes cycling as a method of fitness to reduce obesity, hosts a annual group ride in which he participates, and has a “Ride to Work Day” to promote fitness and greener living. We live in a State where charity bike rides raise money for worthy causes.

And we live in a State where some drivers insult and threaten cyclists who are doing those very things. I have had fists shaken at me, been flipped off, honked at, and even had a car rev the engine right behind me (he had plenty of room to pass), and then pass me and lock up the brakes to see if I would hit him. What type a person does that? I don’t know, but this State has them.

One letter to the editor referred to cyclists riding at 5MPH on the road. That is a 12 minute mile. Most people, who exercise, RUN faster than that. In fact most cyclists ride at 15-25 MPH. Does that mean cycling should be “unsafe”?

One letter referred to cycling as a hobby “like hang gliding”. It referred to the fact that cycling is accepted in Europe, and this isn’t Europe. So does that make cycling wrong? Does that mean cycling should be “unsafe”?

And what was so important to the driver at that moment, more important than the two lives of Tom and Lee Anne? Was it being on time for a meeting? Was it getting home a few minutes earlier? Was it making a cell phone call while driving that could not wait? Was it needing to change the song on the radio?

And how do you explain that was the reason that you ran down a cyclist to their spouse, children, parents and friends? You don’t… You say “I’m Sorry” and ask for forgiveness. And maybe you even receive it. But “I’m Sorry” doesn’t restore a life, doesn’t heal a family, doesn’t bring back a spouse and parent.

I was taught that statistically speaking, with enough “near misses”, an event will occur. A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury, illness, or damage - but had the potential to do so. A “near miss” is truck mirror just missing a cyclist’s head. A “near miss” is a car that fails to move over when passing a cyclist, crowding the rider against the edge of the road.. A “near miss” is a driver acting aggressive toward a cyclist due to having to slow down on a road that has no minimum speed limit.

And should enough of them occur, what will my event be? A crash, an accident, death? I don’t know, and I pray it never comes.

And what can I do to prevent it? Stop riding my bike I suppose. But that only improves my odds, not the next cyclist’s. What can the State Legislator do to prevent it? Improve roads by adding bike lanes, enforcing the laws, and helping convince the public that cyclists are not the enemy. What can every driver in South Carolina do to prevent it? Just about everything…

If you are aware of a great Letter to an Editor that you think would benefit our cycling community, please forward it to me at Rmayer5@sc.rr.com, along with the newspaper, date and author.