The community lost former city councilman David Nelson, when he was hit by a truck while on his bicycle on Wednesday. Now, the community is speaking out about the urgency for safety when sharing the roads.
While it is emphasized time and time again, DPS asked drivers to eliminate distractions while behind the wheel.
“From our cellphones, to our radios, to our GPS, to the kids in the car, to the animals, to our food and drinks that we have in the car,” said Sgt. John Gonzalez, with DPS.
Gonzalez encouraged drivers to use their mirrors every two seconds and be aware of what is approaching or around their car. Drivers should also move over a lane and slow down when passing a bicycle.
Cyclists also have a responsibility to make themselves visible on the road, according to Keith Burt, a cyclist.
“We recommend high visibility and bright lights, sometimes even during the day,” he said.
Cyclists should where vibrant and reflective colored attire, that offer full body protection, said Gonzalez. “Gloves, protective pants, that’ll keep you from getting scraped and hurt if you fall over.”
Whether its on a city street or on a county road, these guidelines always apply, according to Gonzalez. He said it only takes a second for everything to change.
“That’s the most difficult part, to be able to go tell a family that their loved one is not coming back anymore,” he said.
“Safety is a factor because of how vulnerable someone is on a bicycle,” said Burt.
