Tandem Cycling - Tandem Cyclists Killed in San Antonio

In case any of you knew them, I thought I'm come out of the racing forum and share the sad news:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/63116092.html

How very sad. My thoughts are with the family.

Terrible to hear. The newspaper's sidebarred "bicycle safety tips" are particularly insensitive given the nature of the collision.

So sad an incident considering their past brush with death (also from an out of control driver)...


:(


We all should take a moment to appreciate how preciously fragile life can be.


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And no charges to be filed......?

Article said no alcohol was involved.


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And our good governor just vetoed a 3 foot passing bill this past summer, despite it having passed unanimously in the Tx House, and 26-5 in the Tx Senate.

http://governor.state.tx.us/news/veto/12636/

Sad indeed.

Article said no alcohol was involved.


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I would have thought involuntary manslaughter would apply but what do I know

Article said no alcohol was involved.

The driver lost control, so you'd think excessive speed would be involved. However fast he was going it was faster than he could safely handle.

And our good governor just vetoed a 3 foot passing bill this past summer, despite it having passed unanimously in the Tx House, and 26-5 in the Tx Senate.

http://governor.state.tx.us/news/veto/12636/

Hard to know what the house members really thought, as it's amazing how many 'feel good' Bills are voted FOR when it's known the Bill will be DOA on a Governor's desk via the Veto pen. The specific reasoning for veto is interesting in light of the fact that while penalties exist in current laws that 'should' provide both accountability and act as a deterrent, motorists are rarely charged... as seems to be the preliminary indication in this second & third cyclist fatality within the past week as well as the single rider fatality also caused by a motorist drifting off the road near Fort Worth last Saturday.



While I am in favor of measures that make our roads safer for everyone, this bill contradicts much of the current statute and places the liability and responsibility on the operator of a motor vehicle when encountering one of these vulnerable road users. In addition, an operator of a motor vehicle is already subject to penalties when he or she is at fault for causing a collision or operating recklessly, whether it is against a “vulnerable user” or not.

Now, to be fair, I do tend to agree with the logic in the Veto. The real problem isn't having enough laws on the books, it's enforcement vis-a-vis local law enforcement writing citations and local prosecutors filing charges. Therefore, until such time as the law enforcement system is fixed, you can write all the laws you want but it will be for naught.


I would have thought involuntary manslaughter would apply but what do I know

Indeed. This is the hypocrisy surrounding 'accidents', where someone operating a motor vehicle kills through negligence -- and negligence is pretty self-evident when a collision occurs through no fault of the cyclist -- but it is treated in a completely different manner than when a person holding a gun accidentally kills someone.

Anyway, I had posted this tragic incident earlier on the A&S forum where, as usual, most comments are not constructive or informative. It is also making its way through Hobbes where my only contribution was as follows and bears consideration by readers here as well:


I'll reserve my advocacy comments for the advocacy forums, but from a tandem-specific standpoint this IS perhaps one of the more significant risks that we face when we ride with a spouse: the injury, incapacitation or loss of both riders in a single event.

This is certainly not the first time a tandem team has been killed in a single collision; in fact, there are several that come to mind and they're all gut-wrenching as none of them were the fault of the riders. We also know of couples who have been hit where one or both riders were injured and unable to work. And, we've also been at events where couples have crashed due to cycling-related risks such as clipping a rear wheel with a front tire or not taking the appropriate precautions when crossing railroad tracks. In regard to the latter, both riders broke collar bones.

The point being, make sure you have the necessary insurance and have your affairs in order, especially if you have dependents at home -- old, young or otherwise. While we'd all like to think "it can't happen to us" or just don't even consider the risk, it exists and being unprepared can make a bad situation even worse.

Just something to consider.

A very good and valid point. For those of us who also ride with their spouses on motorcycles, this is already a self-evident concern. Sad that the situation is that it would also apply to riding tandem bikes.

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The driver lost control, so you'd think excessive speed would be involved. However fast he was going it was faster than he could safely handle.

I can't remember if I read it in the txbra forum or another news story, but the truck was doing 70 in a 65. The driver had visited the shoulder before (according to witnesses). Right before the collision, he veered into oncoming traffic, over-reacted, and lost control, flying through the shoulder on the way to the ditch. It looks like he recovered enough to either keep it on the shoulder or drove back up there (dragging the tandem).

Just sucks all around.

I am so deeply disturbed about this. Every accident like this is a reminder that we Cyclist are in constant danger from bad drivers. Every time I head out on my bike I realize that my life could end at any time. My sorrows and thoughts go out to the family.

The driver would have likewise probably killed a couple in an uncoming car or most certainly pedestrians. While the driver may not be guilty of a crime he/she has civil liability and has demonstrated that he/she should not be operating a motor vehicle for many years. This is not an "accident". An unforeseen mechanical failure is an accident. This is gross negligence.

Update to the original story: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/63353167.html


A day after the Bexar County Sheriff's Office said charges would not likely be filed in a bicycle crash that killed the parents of a 7-year-old girl, it announced it would leave that decision up to the district attorney's office.

Deputy Ino Badillo, spokesman for the Sheriff's Office, said investigators plan to forward all findings of Thursday morning's accident to prosecutors to determine if the truck's driver, 40-year-old Gilbert John Sullaway Jr., would be charged with any wrongdoing.

Sullaway hasn't been charged with any crime, nor was he cited for any traffic violations.

On Thursday, Badillo said it appeared the collision that killed Gregory and Alexandra Bruehler was a tragic accident.

Aside from being glad to see the original mis-statement by Deputy Badillo has been corrected and that the case is being referred to the DA, this second article also contains some interesting comments from the DA as well as a local cycling advocate, background on previous collisions in local area where drivers were not cited, comments from a State Trooper that suggest there are laws on the books in Texas that can already be used when a motorist hits a cyclist, and some additional information about Gregory and Alexandra Bruehler.

As always, the reader comments are very revealing with regard to non-cyclist attitudes towards cyclists and the like.

No charges against the driver?!? I don't get it. Supposedly the 3-ft law was vetoed because we had existing laws on the books making the new law unnecessary. If 0 inches isn't covered under the current law, I think we need a new law here in TX.

Amazing how we have cameras issuing tickets for various offences but someone that cannot control theitr motor vehicle and kills 2 people does not get charged . . .
Have tandemed in TX and have seen some weird stuff; folks in pickups zooming by us on the shoulder of the road at high speed.
Fortunately not all Texicans drive that way but the one's that do give a hell of a bad impression. Nice slogan they've got: "Texas Friendly".

If y'all read the second article you'll see that the Deputy / spokesman for the local Sheriff's office mis-spoke and the case has been referred to the DA who will ultimately determine if charges will be filed.

That charges have not yet been filed while an investigation is on-going is not necessarily a bad thing. However, that said, the past history of motorists / cyclists collisions just suggest the local authorities are not inclined to charge motorists. Again, two such accidents are mentioned in the second article that I just linked above.

More to follow, I'm sure. I suspect this case coming short on the heels of a second cyclist fatality under similar conditions near Fort Worth (driver veering out of traffic lane and hitting cyclist on the shoulder) will put the local authorities under a wary eye as to how they handle this case. Moreover, the on-going hearing regarding 'Distracted Motorists' will likely cause the media to look closely at these collisions. Well, at least we can hope they do.....

I thought the basic law was that if you hit another vehicle from behind, its your fault. I believe that a bicycle is defined as a "vehicle" under most state vehicle codes. So, if the truck driver had killed someone in a "motor" vehicle, what charges would be filed ?

Amazing how we have cameras issuing tickets for various offences but someone that cannot control theitr motor vehicle and kills 2 people does not get charged . . .
Have tandemed in TX and have seen some weird stuff; folks in pickups zooming by us on the shoulder of the road at high speed.
Fortunately not all Texicans drive that way but the one's that do give a hell of a bad impression. Nice slogan they've got: "Texas Friendly".

Let's not condemn an entire state over this terrible incident. I love it here in Texas and do take offense to a statement like that. I could say the same for every state we have tandemed in including Arizona.

Thoughts and prayers are with the family.

As a non-American, it blows my mind to read about vehicle-related deaths in which no charges are laid. It makes me incredibly sad to read about accidents such this one, but it is just as sad that the drivers of vehicles aren't required to pay attention to what's on the road.

In most of Europe there are blanket road safety laws that cover 'driving without due care and attention'. Drivers are expected to be alert and in control of their vehicles at all times, and any sort of collision is a fineable offense.

There are two interesting consequences of this:

1. If a driver is involved in an accident involving death and there is no other contravention of traffic law (e.g. speeding, drink driving, etc.) they are still held criminally responsible. There is an assumption that roads are dangerous places, and driving within the highway code isn't enough to protect you from accidents: one must also maintain constant vigilance, maintain control of their vehicle at all times, and adjust their driving to suit the road conditions. There is no such thing as an accident, there is always a cause. In a situations such as the one in this thread, the guy would be fined for not driving in such a way that he was able to maintain control of his vehicle. He should have been looking out for other users of the road, and when he saw the cyclists he should have modified his driving accordingly, and kept a safe distance behind them until he felt it was safe enough to overtake them. Whether or not he was driving 'erratically' wouldn't matter, he still wasn't driving responsibly.

2. You can be heavily fined (and possibly even receive a driving suspension or jail sentence) for single-vehicle accidents. So if you are driving at night and miss a corner, go off the road, wreck your car, but are otherwise fine, you are still in big doo-doo. The point is that you were driving recklessly, the fact that no one was hurt is irrelevant. A friend of mine had her driving license suspended for a month for sideswiping a concrete barrier on a highway, even though she wasn't injured, damage to her car was only moderate and no other drivers were involved.

I'd like to see American laws changed so that drivers aren't simply required to follow the technical aspects (e.g. don't drive over the speed limit, have a BAC of below a certain level, stay between the lines); they should also be required to survey the road for potential dangers and adjust their driving accordingly. The American legal system doesn't seem to take into account the fact that roads aren't simply pieces of tarmac with speed limits and painted lines, they are dynamic and dangerous environments, and people who use them should exercise 'due care and attention'.

My 2p.

Ginger

I would have thought involuntary manslaughter would apply but what do I know

A local, Texas, lawyer pointed out recently, in reference to a case in which a 20 year old female had killed a cyclist who was riding on the shoulder, that:-

"Involuntary manslaughter no longer exists it was replaced by intoxication
manslaughter and there is still reckless manslaughter."

And our good governor just vetoed a 3 foot passing bill this past summer, despite it having passed unanimously in the Tx House, and 26-5 in the Tx Senate.

http://governor.state.tx.us/news/veto/12636/

Sad indeed.

Unbelievable, isn't it?

Unbelievable, isn't it?

This is bordering on A&S column material, but let me ask a rhetorical question:

If you already have laws on the books in Texas that allow authorities to cite motorists who hit cyclists (see comments in recent update from a Texas State Trooper) that aren't being acknowledged by authorities under the premise that "I didn't see him", "he swerved right in front of me" or "it was just an accident" how does the 3' rule law change how authorities think and act when a motorist hits a cyclist?

In other words, why would the law enforcement authorities in Texas who don't apply current laws make a point of pulling over motorists and citing them for passing too close to a cyclist, pedestrian, highway worker, etc. even when they did hit them?

As GingerSpice notes, the entire US approach to motor vehicle licensing, policing and application of penalties is abysmal. Good grief, until MADD came along most motorists walked even when the killed someone while driving DUI. It's not all that much better today in terms of how many times a person can be stopped for DUI before they have driving restrictions applied and MADD has been lobbying officials since May of 1980... 28 years just to get laws where they are today.

laws on the books in Texas ... aren't being acknowledged by authorities under the premise that "I didn't see him"...

This is the bit that I totally don't get. Isn't one obligated to be vigilant whilst driving? In my books, "I didn't see him" is an invalid excuse for any road accident: if anything, it confirms that the fault is yours due to inattention. Pretty much every near miss I've had on a bike was due to someone not giving a second glance before merging into traffic/exiting a roundabout/etc., and I've been only been saved by the good grace of my brakes and own personal attention. They may not have seen me, but I was by no means invisible.

I agree that a driver who collides with a rider or pedestrian who is wearing black in the deep of night might be able to genuinely use "I didn't see him" as an excuse, but for any other situation this simply doesn't fly. Surely one must be on the lookout for other cars/cyclists/pedestrians/animals/obstacles at all times? I don't even mean this from a legal standpoint, I mean from a safety standpoint. The whole "didn't see" line of excuses implies one wasn't looking in the first place, and should in fact read as "I wasn't looking". Or am I missing something?

This is the bit that I totally don't get.

Welcome to the world of the US pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist... Frankly, many of us don't get it either, hence the angst that you often 'hear' in the writings that follow a serious or fatal collision between a motorist and cyclist.

My wife and I live outside a small town in an ag area and often ride on roads with little or no shoulder. The reason I spent the ridiculous $'s for a Dinotte taillight is that I want these inattentive drivers to see us from 1/2 mile in broad daylight; no accounting for blind curves of course. Maybe part of every driving course should be a 5 mile bicycle ride on one such narrow road?

rdtompki, I agree about the value of lights. Wherever I go, night or day, I have about 2 million lumens of light energy radiating from the front and rear of my tandem or my single. This, in addition to gawky yellow jackets. Anything ... anything at all to make an impression on SMS-obsessed drivers before they bury their heads into yet another VITM (Very Important Text Message).

While in no way indicative of this terrible case, I have seen far too many cyclists in my area, riding in tree-covered locations, with dark clothing and no lights whatsoever. There is no way to make them out--even in broad daylight.

Moonwalker:
"Fortunately not all Texicans drive that way" does not condemn the whole state of TX.
In Arizona we also have our share of issues; been hit on my single by a drunken pickup driver (who had his license suspended for 90 days); hit by a senior citizen (our age . . . in his 70s) that had a restricted driver's license and struck us from behind on our tandem at +/- 45 mph on a quiet frontage road (we we're wearing bright orange jerseys) and claimed 'didn't see you' . . . had his license revoked.
Been punched in the kidney by a motorcyclist while on my single bike in Michigan; plus at least another half-dozen incidents in various places throughout our nearly 35 years of cycling TWOgether.
'Justice' quite often goes to the folks with the best attorney$, regardless of what the laws state.

It's Cool! There are bad drivers everywhere in every state. It is just sad that these recent incidents ( I cannot call them accidents) have drawn negative attention to our state. This made my wife and I discuss purchasing more life insurance this morning. It could happen to any of us at anytime.

I am self employeed and spend much time behind the wheel and it is terrifying what I see other drivers doing while trying to operate a vehicle. Texting has got to be one of the worst. Just cannot do that and drive.

Having 2 daughters (even though they are older teenagers), my heart goes out to that 7 year old little girl.

Have done several Southwest Tandem Rallies in TX (as far back as 1994) and always had a great time and enjoyed TX hospitality and some unique eating . . . not just great BBQ, but also kolaches (a Czech pastry) at the SWTR in LaGrange a few years back.
Agree, we have to be super vigilant while cycling . . . pretend we are invisible even when wearing those garish jerseys.
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Have done several Southwest Tandem Rallies in TX (as far back as 1994) and always had a great time and enjoyed TX hospitality and some unique eating . . . not just great BBQ, but also kolaches (a Czech pastry) at the SWTR in LaGrange a few years back.
Agree, we have to be super vigilant while cycling . . . pretend we are invisible even when wearing those garish jerseys.
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Its Texas, what do you expect?

Mark my words. The 'investigation' will be superficial at best.

The driver's cell phone records will not be subpoenaed, even though clearly this looks like an issue of text messaging while driving.

If you're interested the DA's name is Susan Reed and the number there is (210) 335-2311. The couple that were killed were named Gregory and Alexandra Bruehler. They left behind a seven year old daughter.

...even though clearly this looks like an issue of text messaging while driving.

How did you arrive at that conclusion? Seriously?

I only ask because these incidents always seem to precipitate statements that reveal individual biases where 'gut instinct' guides statements rather than facts.

The local Sheriff's office certainly showed its cards to the extent the local DA and other state authorities have had to go in, do damage control and assume the lead in the investigation.

What's in my gut? I've read nothing that suggests it was anything other than driver inattention in it's most basic form: day dreaming or taking eyes off the road to look at something in the distance, only to find that you've drifted out of your lane. Unfortunately, fate dealt all involved an evil twist by putting what was probably the only bicycle within miles on the shoulder of the road just ahead of where the motorist drifted off the road while travelling 70 mph. Things happen fast at 70 mph and I can only imagine that when he realized he was off the road and looked back to see where he was going clear in his sights was a bicycle instead of an open road. Sadly, unless someone knows not to look where you don't want to go, you tend to hit things that you really want to avoid. I suspect this is what a competent investigation may reveal.

Now, as to whether or not he was under medication, tired, stressed.... who knows? Only the toxicology from a blood test will determine that, assuming a blood sample was taken per normal accident protocol when a fatality has occurred. Checking cell phone records is also SOP. But, frankly, it doesn't really matter... and it shouldn't matter. Road users have a responsibility to focus their full attention on the act of driving (period). If they fail to maintain control of their vehicle or fail to take reasonable actions when presented with a hazard or hazardous conditions, they have by definition "failed" to act responsibly as a road user. Everything else is an excuse and short of valid contributing factors that were outside of the road user's control, they should be held accountable for their actions. It's nothing personal, nor should it be. It doesn't say that they're a bad person either.

Of course, to appeal to emotions it's always best to focus on those 'soft' issues and the belief that "they'll have to live with that the rest of their lives". That's interesting, but it misses the point of why we have laws and why law enforcement is suppose to ensure they are enforced on a consistent and equal basis: because if you don't they lose their deterrent effect. Clearly, there are a lot of motorists who don't even consider the possibility that they are breaking laws as they drive while engaged in any one or even multiple activities that have nothing to do with driving: day dreaming, admonishing children or making a sales pitch to passengers, looking for a CD or adjusting the radio, programming or playing with their GPS and on-board computers, making phone calls, texting, eating lunch, changing the DVD, applying make-up, reading a book, flossing their teeth, playing grab-axx with a passenger, searching for something in the back seat, and on, and on, and on.... It's amazing what you see when you look down into cars from a vantage point in a larger truck on while sitting on a motorcycle.

However, unless motorists see other motorists facing stiff fines or having their driving privileges suspended when they fail to maintain control of their vehicle -- regardless of whether or not anyone is injured or killed as a result of that -- these behaviors and attitudes about the cause an effect of "accidents" will not change. That's the root of the problem. Cyclists who are hit are just another symptom and, frankly, cyclists aren't infalible either. It's just gut wrenching when you have a couple who from all indications were doing everything right occupying the same space on the road when a motorist failed to take care of Job #1 when driving: do no harm.

Closing thought: I would love to see a series of PSAs where a driver says goodbye to their family at some type of event before heading off on a trip in their car and then has a series of close-calls while driving. However, in each incident the startled cyclists on bikes that look back are members his or her family, which would be the same for the passengers of other cars, pedestrians and everyone else who his various inattentive activities put in peril. A tag line such as "Drive as though your family's lives depends on it" would drive home the message.

Bottom line: The motorist failed to control his vehicle (he ran off the road) and struck another vehicle from behind. This in itself is prima facie evidence that he is responsible for negligently killing two law-abiding people and should therefore face legal penalties. His only possible defence is that something to do with his vehicle caused the accident (e.g. a tire blowout of a tire that had been properly taken care of).

This is no different than if he swung a shotgun around in a bar and discharged it without looking. No different.

Because the moral to be drawn from this story if no penalties are applied is that if you want to murder someone in Texas, do it with your car.

I would love to see a series of PSAs where a driver says goodbye to their family at some type of event before heading off on a trip in their car and then has a series of close-calls while driving. However, in each incident the startled cyclists on bikes that look back are members his or her family, which would be the same for the passengers of other cars, pedestrians and everyone else who his various inattentive activities put in peril. A tag line such as "Drive as though your family's lives depends on it" would drive home the message.

Hey! That's actually a really great attention-getting idea concept for a PSA! I know that it would certainly get my attention and likely get most people who see it to reflect on their driving responsibilities for at least a few moments and possibly enough to save a few lives. Another more brute force method is to simply show a montage of those killed by inattentive drivers listing date of death...kind of like those anti-smoking PSAs. Maybe we can have someone in advertising pitch this as pro-bono work or else have it sponsored by a driving/cyling safety advocacy organization?


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The couple that were killed were named Gregory and Alexandra Bruehler. They left behind a seven year old daughter.

:(

Here are some traffic safety PSA sites:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/look/html/home/home.shtml

http://www.nationalroadsafety.org/page.php?id=18

http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/bike-ndx.htm

http://www.txdot.gov/safety/psas.htm

Closing thought: I would love to see a series of PSAs where a driver says goodbye to their family at some type of event before heading off on a trip in their car and then has a series of close-calls while driving. However, in each incident the startled cyclists on bikes that look back are members his or her family, which would be the same for the passengers of other cars, pedestrians and everyone else who his various inattentive activities put in peril. A tag line such as "Drive as though your family's lives depends on it" would drive home the message.

That would be a fantastic PSA. I could visiualize it while reading it. Wish Lance would read this, and with all his "contacts" get this done here in Texas.

Closing thought: I would love to see a series of PSAs where a driver says goodbye to their family at some type of event before heading off on a trip in their car and then has a series of close-calls while driving. However, in each incident the startled cyclists on bikes that look back are members his or her family, which would be the same for the passengers of other cars, pedestrians and everyone else who his various inattentive activities put in peril. A tag line such as "Drive as though your family's lives depends on it" would drive home the message.

That would be a fantastic PSA. I could visiualize it while reading it. Wish Lance would read this, and with all his "contacts" get this done here in Texas.

Even throw in a before home movie shot of the Bruehler's daughter at the start and an after shot at the funeral or something to show the loss. I think adding the real life to the attempts to connect or personalize what can happen would be effective if it could be packaged well, simply, and briefly.

From Tucson Lawyer (http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/heavy/):

http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/kylie.jpg

Folks, that is a photograph of seven year old Kylie Bruehler. She is at a funeral service to bury her parents, both of whom were killed last week when a driver veered onto the shoulder and drove his pickup truck into them.

Too sad for words is what that picture represents.

That picture says it all. Absolutely heartbreaking. If needed I would adopt that little girl into our family in a heartbeat. This is such a sad story. May God Bless her and comfort her through this difficult ordeal.

Some pictures speak a thousand words.....this one leaves me speechless

I was one of the cyclists at the memorial. There are no words. Kylie's grandfather shook every single cyclist's hand. Here is a pic of the crash site:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a265/mikebeach/Bike_Accident008.jpg

This is terrible. Here's a link (http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/Hundreds-gather-to-honor-couple-killled-in/2s6ea5GaHkSF6-Qv4hl6Ug.cspx) to a TV news item covering the memorial ride and service.

That poor little girl. This really strikes a nerve.

For 2008, MADD reports that 11,773 people died in drunk driving crashes:
http://www.madd.org/about-us/about-us/statistics.aspx

Distracted driving with 5,800 fatalities is also a big problem:
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE58T3E020090930

Maybe MADD could pick up the campaing "Mothers Against Dristracted Driving"

What a moving picture. Definitely brings up a thousand words and emotions. So very sad. Poor young girl.

I printed out this picture, not sure why.....perhaps a reminder of how 'all' can come to an end.

Very very sad news. My heart goes out to the girl and the couple's friends and family.

The number of cyclist around where I live in North Texas has grown significantly over the past few years. I guess it's the same in other parts as well. Same roads but increased cyclist and motorist is a recipe for disaster. We have now quit riding in certain roads where the traffic has increased. Do whatever it takes to make it safe.

That is an incredibly well done photograph.

Sometimes photographs become icons, crystalize sentiment, and have the power to change things (think of the photo of The Vietnamese child running being burned by Napalm.)

Perhaps that photograph could be used by Bicycle ardvocates to really drive home a message about safe driving.


And for my effort tilting at Windmills, I sent the following message to the Office of the Governor of Texas:

Greg and Alexandra Breuhler were recently killed when a truck driven by an inattentive driver struck their tandem bicycle. Attached is a link to a photograph of Greg and Alexandra's 7 year old daughter taken at their funeral.

Bicycling is a healthy and constructive means of transportation and recreation. Bicycling reduces our need for fossil fuels, pollution, CO2 emmissions, and improves public health by reducing the ills of sedentary lifestyles

However, Bicycling is becoming increasingly more dangerous with congestion, inattentive drivers, cell phones, and text messaging.

The message sent to motorists by the passage of a 3 foot passing zone law, and an education campaign communicating that law would help to reduce those dangers.

I would therefore urge you to reconsider your position on the 3 foot law, and request the legislature to again present the Bill to you for signature, and sign the Bill into law.


You can go to the Website and send Governor Perry a message.
http://governor.state.tx.us/contact/

Considering that her folks were on a tandem I think someone organized should set up a legal educational trust and those of us in the tandem community should contribute something for her future.