A lifelong cyclist, advocate and bicycle shop owner is hospitalized with internal and spinal injuries in Winston-Salem. A motorist ran him down while he rode his recumbent bike home from work about a week ago.
Bruce Hermann owns the Neighborhood Transportation bicycle shop in nearby Lewisville, NC. He's well-known and respected among local cyclists and has worked on the local and national stage for more bicycle lanes and more rights for cyclists.
Regarding the crash, his wife, Margaret, told the Winston-Salem Journal:
“I've always been worried about that … he tended to work late. We've always been afraid that something like this might happen.”
Rear-ended
Hermann was riding his recumbent home at about 7:30 in the evening on Feb. 21 when a vehicle struck him from behind at about 35 mph. He was thrown more than 60 feet.
The police report says the bike was equipped with proper lighting, which was working. No charges have been filed, as police are waiting to see how Hermann recovers.
How can a motorist hit a recumbent bicycle with proper lighting unless the driver isn't paying attention?
Lifelong cyclist
The Journal columnist talked with Hermann's family at the hospital. He heard how Hermann, 58, had been riding bicycles since growing up in Castro Valley, California. He bicycled around UC-Davis during college and rode his bike cross-country.
The website for his Neighborhood Transportation bike shop shows that he specializes in recumbents and foldable bicycles. He also devotes consider effort at his website to advocate. He writes about commuting safely, where to find the best routes, and what to wear for maximum visibility.
He also explains the complete streets program, transportation enhancements, and other issues dear to those who advocate for bicycling.
Journal article
I hope motorists in Winston-Salem read “Uphill Fight” and realize the potential danger they create by not paying attention to their driving.
The article portrays car-bicycle crashes as an inevitable part of bicycling. That shouldn't be the case.
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