First, I'd like to thank everyone that showed up in the rain on Friday evening, May 1, for the critical mass bike ride from Winona Lake to downtown Warsaw. Special thanks to Warsaw Mayor Wiggins and Winona Lake Town Coordinator Craig Allebach for riding along, and especially to the officers from Warsaw and Winona Lake police departments for the escort.
We hope that no one's evening was totally disrupted.
The important thing to know about critical mass is that it is a statement. This group of 92 cyclists that gathered in Friday evening is typical of the number of cyclists that might be on the street on any given day around Warsaw.
As a group of 92, we take up a lot of space and are quite visible, but as we navigate around the community in one's and two's we do have a tendency to become invisible. And that invisibility is the concern as it becomes a safety issue.
As a cyclist, I know for a fact that when on my bike I have fewer distractions than when I am driving my car, and on my bike I have a much better view of what is going on around me than I do from behind the steering wheel.
The distractions are a problem, as on numerous occasions I've had close calls with cars where it was apparent that the driver just plain didn't see me even though I was trying to be conspicuous. (As much as I hate to say it, cell phones are the usual culprit; like I said I have a really good view from the bike.)
Please keep in mind that when a car and a bicycle get too close together, the cyclist is likely to be hurt. And cyclists are people just like you. We're mothers and fathers and sisters and friends and grandchildren and grandparents. We're just driving to work, going to the grocery, getting some fresh air, taking a break from the kids or just driving around - just like we all do in our cars.
Friday is Ride Your Bike to Work Day. Join us, get some exercise, get a different view of the world and save a little gas.
