NAC: Ride of Silence tomorrow

[Brett Dikeman]

Most of you don't know this, but last year I was struck by a car while
biking to work and broke a bone in my hand.  I was in front and to the
side of him for more than half a minute at a traffic light.  When the
light changed green, I made a left turn and he went straight from the
left turn only lane, striking me in the process and knocking me off my
bike.

  The driver received a $50 ticket, which he probably got out of,
given that I wasn't allowed to come to the hearing where he contested
the ticket.  I received a trip to the ER, 3 doctor's visits, weeks out
of work, nightmares, and two casts over the course of 5-6 weeks on my
dominant hand. I consider myself fortunate that I fell away from the
car, and not under.

When I was injured, I was astounded at the sheer number of people I
knew who had at least one friend who was also injured in a crash with
a car.

Tomorrow evening, all around the country, there will be a Ride of
Silence to commemorate bicyclists injured or killed by drivers.  Full
details can be found here:

http://www.rideofsilence.org/

...including state-by-state ride locations.

Please- if you have a bicycle in good working order, a helmet, and
lights (you should have all of these if you ride anyway), I ask that
you attend a ride near you.

Thank you,
Brett