First responders tend to a cyclist Wednesday evening who was struck by a vehicle along Shorter Avenue. (Photo by Jeremy Stewart/RN-T.com)
According to Rome Police officer Zachary Colvin:
A tan GMC Yukon SUV driven by Roxie Morris of Rome turned left out of Citizens First Bank, 800 Shorter Ave., into the middle turn lane to go eastbound.
The Yukon then collided with Victor Hugo Depaz, 21, of 6 Ellison St., who was on a bicycle in the turn lane and moving westbound waiting to get across the road.
Depaz was taken to Floyd Medical Center with a broken leg. Morris was cited for improper use of central turn lane.
No, this is why cyclists need to be more aware of motorists.
Think about it, which one of the two went to the hospital with a broken leg? Which of the two is more vulnerable to serious injury when this happens? When you were a child, did your parents tell you to be careful & watch out for motorist, or did they say, ride any way you'd like, we will contact all motorist in the city & tell them to watch out for you?
There are more motorist on the roads than there are cyclist, therefore, the cyclist bares all the responsibility for his/her safety when riding on two wheels with no motor, now traction control, no horn, etc... A bicycle cannot & should not be put into the same realm as a vehicle. When you ride a bicycle in the street where there are hundreds of motorist moving at speeds from 35 to 55 mph, then you ride that bicycle with them at your own risk.