Fifty Plus (50+) - Bent Rider Down

I was driving to Lake Murray and there were police diverting traffic from the street that enters the reservoir. We had to drive through a parking lot past the scene of an accident involving two (maybe three) cars. As I made my way past, I saw the twisted frame of a recumbent bicycle lying on the sidewalk.

By the time I'd parked some distance away and made my way back on foot with my camera, the bike was gone. They were towing the cars. I was unable to find anyone who could give me good information. I did take this picture of one of the cars just before it was towed.

I sure hope the 'bent rider is okay. It didn't look good.

I've only got about 400 miles on my 'bent so I'm not speaking
from a vast bank of experience but I can't imagine getting
thrown free from a recumbent. Like you, I sure hope the cyclist
is O.K. and likewise for the motorists who were involved too.

:(:( prayers for the rider and all others involved.

I've only got about 400 miles on my 'bent so I'm not speaking
from a vast bank of experience but I can't imagine getting
thrown free from a recumbent. There are safety arguments to be made both ways, but I suspect 'bents have an advantage in bike-only incidents, such as a front wheel snag, whereas conventional uprights are better against a motor vehicle.



Like you, I sure hope the cyclist
is O.K. and likewise for the motorists who were involved too. Concur. I am also hoping someone from that area can get more information for us.

_____

***** 1 April 2008 = 135th anniversary of the birth of Sergei Rachmaninoff *****

I doubt that any conclusive data exists showing whether or not recumbents are "safer" than upright bikes.
An accident involving cars can be bad news on any bike.

I've read that in general, one suffers fewer injuries in recumbent crashes, largely due to not falling as far as you would from an upright bike. However in any individual crash or accident, there are so many factors at play that you can't predict the outcome.

Dang, I haven't seen anything about this in any of the bent forums. I wonder who the rider is.

The only rider I know in SanDiego is Bill Volk, who is more north of SD. Whoever it is, I hope he's OK. As I found out when I was left-crossed, on a bent you're less likely to go flying over the car to land on your head - or in my case, land in the junk-filled back of the pickup.