Defensive cycling can save lives

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Michael Mouw is barely out of breath as he completes his chilly 45 mile ride with his riding group Sunday morning.  Mouw knows that cycling on the same roads as cars comes with run-ins.

"I had a couple of crashes but I haven't really had any serious accidents but it's sort of luck as much as anything but I like to think it's because I ride smart, I ride defensively," said cyclist Mouw.

For Michael, learning to ride defensively came through experience and tragedy.

"I had a friend killed on a bike a number of years ago," said Mouw.  "After that I did some research, and I'm an ER doctor too, so I've seen it from both ends."

This weekend, a cyclist was seriously injured in a crash.  Police believe an SUV hit the cyclist. The driver didn't stop and the rider is hospitalized with serious injuries. According to the Austin Police department, there have been 148 bike/car crashes so far this year. Two fatal accidents happened in June. One at Cameron and Ferguson and the other at 4000 South I-35 service road.

"To leave somebody on the side of the road is a horrible, horrible thing," said Austin Cycling Association eduction director Wes Robinson. "Drivers, especially this time of year they are just in a hurry. They're trying to get their Christmas shopping done. I would encourage them to take a little extra time and slow down."

Another piece of advice for drivers, the law says your vehicle should be at least three feet from a cyclist.  But cyclists can help drivers too.

"We really try to encourage cyclists to follow the rules of the road, be predictable so that cars, drivers and vehicles know what to do around them," said Robinson.

Robinson says cycling classes teach cyclists to follow the rules of the road by stopping top at stop signs and traffic lights.
Wear protective devices like a helmet.
Make eye contact with the driver to make sure they see you, especially when making left hand turns.

"Drivers are not the ones a cyclists can control so cyclists have to ride defensively riding in a group is always safer," said Mouw.
"It's kind of a roulette game almost. Don't ride between during four and six[ pm] during rush hours. Choose times and routes that are lower in traffic."

While cycling is great exercise, it's important that cyclists and drivers are respectful of one another making sure both arrive to their destination safely.

For information on classes at Austin Cycling Association, click here.