Bicyclist Struck and Killed in Abilene

An Abilene man died on Sunday, April 11th, when he was hit by a car while riding his bike. The man was hit from behind by the vehicle, but it is unknown at this time whether or not charges will be filed against the driver.

A sixty-year-old man was riding on his motorized bicycle close to the intersection of Jamaica and Pine Street when he was struck by a car at around 9 p.m.

Police have confirmed that the bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene, and reporters in the area reported seeing a vehicle with “heavy frontal damage” being towed away following the crash.

Information on this event is limited, but authorities stated that alcohol doesn’t seem to have been a factor.

So far, it is unclear whether the driver on the vehicle involved will face charges related to the incident.

Unfortunately, Texas doesn’t have a stellar record when it comes to bicycle safety. While it may be far from the most dangerous state for cyclists, it still ranks 27th in the Bike League’s list of Bicycle Friendly States. This is because Texas has failed to enact legislation or enforcement of bike-friendly policies or programs, including infrastructure, funding, education, and encouragement.

You can see the effects of this lack of bicycle support by analyzing Texas’ history with these kinds of accidents. Over the past five years, bicycle accidents in Texas have increased or stayed the same year to year.

However, it’s worth noting that support for bicyclists helps more than just the bicyclists themselves. A 13-year study conducted by the University of Colorado Denver and the University of New Mexico found that investing in bicycle infrastructure significantly contributed to fewer fatalities overall as well as “better road-safety outcomes.”

If you’re interested in contributing to cyclist safety in your own life, there are a few things that you can do. First, you can tell your local and state lawmakers that you would like to see greater support for Texas cyclists. Then, you can use extra caution in areas where bike accidents are more likely to occur: urban areas.

In 2019, a whopping 86% of bicycle accidents in Texas took place in urban areas compared to rural ones. This is hardly surprising, but it shows that those who drive in cities and densely populated towns should pay close attention to their driving behaviors in order to help keep cyclists (and themselves), safe.

We’ve come up with a guide to safe driving in bike-heavy areas. You can download our guide and share it with friends to do your part to keep cyclists safe.

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Source : Big Country Homepage

Bicyclist Struck and Killed in Abilene

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