Accident during ride prompts addition of Emergency Contact Form

On Monday, April 8, there was an unfortunate accident during our ride that resulted in the injury of one of our regular riders. I am sharing the story with all of you because I want everyone to always feel informed and thereby able to make the best decision possible. 

What Happened

The incident occurred at the beginning of the ride on the Downtown Greenway extension. When we reached to the part that goes under the interstate, there was a bollard located in the middle of the pathway. That bollard is there to prevent cars from being able to drive on the path. Although she doesn’t remember what happened, those on the ride who witnessed it believe she did not see the bollard and hit it, which caused her to fall and subsequently hit her head. She was not wearing a helmet

We knew pretty quickly she would not be able to ride anymore and that an ambulance was required. She was taken to the hospital and was diagnosed with a concussion. She has been resting at home ever since. 

Her Recovery

It could be weeks before she is fully recovered. She has sensitivity to light, gets tired very easily, and has intermittent feelings of nausea. To be blunt, it’s not fun. Thankfully, she did not sustain any additional injuries. 

She told me, “This is just a freak thing that of course none of us ever saw coming or thought could happen. I always associated injury with speed and I doubt I was going very fast. I will be a pro helmet person from now on and when I come back, I will have the most decorated helmet you’ve ever seen.” 

To Helmet or not to Helmet

You would think the solution to the problem is simple: everyone wears a helmet and then we’ll all be safe. But like most things in life, it’s more complicated than that. 

The Importance of Wearing a Bicycle Helmet

Helmets, though supported by some great research suggesting their effectiveness, also have research in opposition. How can this be? Although much of the research focuses on how helmets were designed (to withstand a particular type of impact), a lot of it boils down to the psychology of the rider and the surrounding drivers. 

Riders who wear helmets have been shown to engage in riskier behavior due to a sort of false sense of security that comes with wearing a helmet. More importantly, drivers will pass more closely to a person wearing a helmet versus a person not wearing a helmet. That shorter passing distance creates more possibilities for an incident. 

In Louisiana, riders over the age of 12 are not legally required to wear a helmet. If you’re under 12, you have to wear a helmet. Some cities that had helmet requirements are now repealing them. 

The Cult of Bike Helmets: The history—and danger—of a modern safety obsession

But in the case of this accident, no car was involved. No risky behavior was being executed. And had she been wearing a helmet, she very well could have avoided the concussion. In fact, she might have gotten right up and continued riding. 

There will always be a risk, and it’s important for you to ask yourself what risk you’re willing to take. If wearing a helmet makes you feel more comfortable, then you should do that. If you would rather not wear a helmet but want to reduce your risk of injury, you might want to research and learn how to properly fall. Yes, that’s a thing and it’s actually something you can practice with the help of an air mattress.. 

Past Injuries

This is the second incident that resulted in what I would classify as serious injuries. The first happened back when the ride was in its infancy. The rider who was injured went on to become one of our most regular and loyal riders. In fact, she joined us the following week. In that instance, we were going down a rather steep hill. She hit her front brakes and went over the handlebars. This is a common mistake. In fact, I’ve done it and I ended up getting surgery to repair a hairline fracture along my thumb. 

Other than that, there have been only small instances. A slip off the bike here and there that only resulted in some bruises or bumps. In fact, one happened the following week after I spent an excessive amount of time talking about safety. In that case, the rider was going single file up the ramp on the levee. He fell over when turning and skinned his knee. 

All in all, that’s a pretty reliably strong record for safety. Hundreds of riders have made their way along the streets of Baton Rouge in a group and have done so without incident. But sometimes all it takes is one bad accident for everyone to feel uneasy. 

There will be another accident in the future, I can promise that. It is the nature of doing, well, anything. If you walk down the road enough times, you’re going to end up spraining your ankle one day. With that said, there are things we can do to reduce the risk of serious injury. 

What We Can Do

Although I will never require helmets, I will continue to say that helmets are encouraged. If you need assistance in purchasing a helmet, there are several people in our group who will be happy to do so. I suggest going to your closest bike shop and asking for a recommendation rather than purchasing one off the internet. They can help fit you for one and show you how to properly put one on. Wearing a helmet improperly can in some cases be more dangerous than not wearing one at all. 

We will also ask every rider to fill out an emergency contact form before participating in a ride. In this instance, we knew the rider very well, but imagine if that had been her first ride? We might not have even known her name. The information will be kept private.

Once you’ve signed the form, you will not be asked to sign it again.

Lastly, we are going to be a bit more diligent about communicating during our rides and teaching folks how to ride bikes safely. The majority of our riders only ride a bike once a week and only do so in this group. For that reason, they are not as aware of the road as those who ride regularly. Riding a bike, though an easy thing to do, does have some complexities to it. 

What About the Bollard?

I have had discussions with the Downtown Development District regarding the incident and whether or not anything can or needs to be done about the bollard. Of course, they were concerned and have additional fears related to the bollard. Most importantly, the single bollard does not seem to be capable of preventing cars from driving onto the pathway. Making sure the pathway is protected from vehicles is a top priority. 

They relayed that making the bollard more visible is absolutely part of the plan moving forward. Additionally, there is still a portion of the pathway that is unfinished, which includes the lighting. That could potentially make a difference as well. Any additional changes will require more consideration. 

Want to Talk More?

If all of this has stirred questions in your mind and fear in your heart, don’t worry, that’s normal. I’d love to talk to you about it more. Feel free to reach out and ask any specific questions you have. 

Final Note

I am in the process of rebuilding the infrastructure for the digital representation of this ride. That means an upgrade to the website, and moving this newsletter to that new website. Nothing should change on your end, but you might notice some differences in the way the newsletter looks.