Sure hope your friends make a full recovery with no lasting limitations. This has me rethinking a short connection between bike paths. Its on a very busy and fast section of road with no paved sidewalk. It has a marked bike lane but in order to go straight i get between the middle lane and the right turning lane. Cars overtake me very quickly. I may just start to cross the road at the light where i just came from to face oncoming traffic, walk my bike to a short section of sidewalk and cross with the lights to get to the connections path. It will take a lot of time but it will be much safer i hope. Ride safe.