Serious bicycle accidents

* Skydiving instructors earnestly study skydiving accidents. Similarly the more Cyclists know about the mistakes other Cyclists have made, or haven't made, and reading a Pertinent Risk Warning for each Serious Cycling Accident will reduce suffering the same costly and painful fate

(i) In August 1998 Steve Bastic then aged 35 suffered a serious brain injury when he fell from his mountain bike whilst training for the ??. Steve had completed 4 IronMan Triathlons, including the Japan IronMan, with averages times less than 10:30 putting him in the first 15% of Finishers. Steve, who had also run 5 marathons, is back on the bike, albeit a special bike with two rear wheels 40mm apart to provide increased stability balance. Click on: "Steve Bastic to ride from Melbourne to Sydney in September and you can join in!" Due to liability issues with Vic Roads, Steve commenced the 580km ride from Albury to Sydney in 6½ days averaging 90km per day. Steve is determined to qualify for the 2012 Paralympics in Manchester and trains diligently for that goal.

RISK WARNING: Mountain Bike Cycling is dangerous. Due to an absence of motor vehicles, fatalities whilst Mountain Biking is much lower. However, due to the often unknown terrain, falls are frequent. Such falls can cause brain injuries and nerve damage.

(ii) On Sunday 4 July 1998 Ian Maguire aka Flash was hit from behind by another bicycle cyclist on the Old Pacific Highway on a down hill about 10km south of Mt. White. The cyclist who collided with Ian was competing in an unannounced bicycle race conducted by the then Northern Suburbs Cycle Club with 25 other racing competitors. The then Northern Suburbs Cycle Club was in breach of Gosford Police bicycle race protocols as Northern Suburbs Cycle Club -

(i) had no lead vehicle to warn of cyclists ahead that a fast moving large Peloton was coming through at up to 60km p/h (during downhill sections); and

(ii) did not display warning signs that a bicycle race was in progress in the area.

Hence, the insurance company which had insured cyclists in Northern Suburbs Cycle Club successfully denied liability for any injuries suffered by -

Ian was off work for 6 weeks. The cyclist that hit Ian alleged that he suffered permanent spinal injuries and litigated Ian for $750,000 circa. The Website Developer understands that Ian's insurers settled in 2002 for more that $500,000. That serious accident evidenced Northern Suburbs Cycle Club change its name to Northern Sydney Cycle Club.
Medical costs for the Northern Suburbs Cyclist and Ian Maguire would have exceeded $10,000 and joint legal costs likely exceeded $25,000.
RISK WARNING: You can't help bad luck. Due to (i) and (ii) above, Ian had no warning that a fast moving Peloton was descending Mt. White in his vicinity. Cycling involves risks to life, limb and wallet.

(iii) On Sunday 19 Dec 1999 on a 82 km out-and-back ride from St Ives to Whale Beach, Helga Greiter aka Blonde Bombshell, whilst cycling north up Old Barrenjoey Rd passing through Newport was regathering speed after pulling-up at a Red light outside the strip-front shopping centre. Approaching 8:15am Helga was hit from behind by a motorist’s bull-bar who “didn’t see her”. Helga was projected forward from her rapidly crumpling Wheeler road bike. Skidding up the bitumen road surface, Helga ground to a halt, wedged and concealed under a parked vehicle adjacent to the curb. A handful of passers-by hastily picked-up/muscled the rear of the parked vehicle off Helga. Two of the eye-witnesses who assisted to lift the car off Helga, remarked “I thought she would be dead.” Helga muttered, "What happened?" Helga suffered fractures to T11, T12 and L5 in her spine. It took Helga almost 12 months of physio to return to the bike. 8 years later Helga has made almost a full recovery.
Helga's medical costs would have approached $25,000, foregone income during rehab approached $10,000 and her legal costs $10,000.
RISK WARNING: Cycling on public roads is dangerous. You can be doing everything right and still get hit by a negligent motorist.

(iv) In March 2000 Peter Tyson aka PacificPete broke a hip whilst descending through a tight LH corner to Bobbin Head bridge from North Turramurra on a wet road surface. That corner is referred to by several cyclists as Amen Corner due to the high number of falls. Another Muggaccinos cyclist, Brenda aka Widget also came down at Amen Corner in 1997. Amen Corner warrants installation of a Dedicated Cycling Blackspot Warning Sign as noted in Annexure “B2”. Peter was picked-up by an ambulance and required 3 pins inserted to stabilise his hip. Peter's medical and ambulance costs would have approached $5,000 and foregone income during rehab $3,000 approx.
RISK WARNING: A Dedicated Cycling Blackspot Warning Sign is evidence that an abnormally high number of accidents have occurred there.

(v) Phil aka BankTeller had just arrived in Christchurch NZ for 10 days cycling in March 2002 in a large group ride organised by Bicycle Victoria. The weather was colder than Phil Johnston expected. He cycled 500m to a nearby store to buy a fleecy shirt. The store placed the shirt in a large, long carry bag. Phil Johnston foolishly dangled the long carry bag over his front handlebars for the first and only time. As Phil Johnston cycled back to the youth hostel, a German backpacker cyclist asked Phil Johnston directions to the hostel. As Phil Johnston turned to give directions the bag wedged between Phil Johnston's front fork and front wheel which savagely jack-knifed his bike projecting his head straight into the roadway squashing nerves at T5 and T6, and smashing his left collarbone. Phil was taken to Christchurch Hospital for x-rays and CAT scan treatment. Rehab was slow as the intervertebral discs eventually subsided. There were 800 cyclists on the Christchurch ride around the South Island organised by Bicycle Victoria. Phil Johnston was more than happy for Bicycle Victoria, President, Harry Barber, to publicise his folly of dangling a loose parcel over his front handlebars, so as to alert other cyclists of the nasty consequences. The Website Developer has subsequently heard of three other Cyclists who have suffered the same fate following dangling a parcel over their handlebars. None of the three other silly cyclists has ever again strung a parcel over their front bars. Once a Cyclist knows about the possible consequences, he/she doesn't make that mistake.
Phil's medical costs would have approached $6,000, foregone income during rehab approached $6,000.

RISK WARNING: A Cyclist should never carry any loose item that could become caught in a front or rear wheel.

(vi) On Sunday 5 Dec 2004 Ian Maguire aka Flash was hit by a motor bike whilst descending the Old Pacific Highway from Pie in the Sky Cafe to Brooklyn Rd. Ian was cycling within 1 metre of the LHS of the LH lane. Ian was taken by ambulance to Royal North Shore Hospital. The driver of the motor bike was patently negligent, however, due to a shrewd lawyer who capitalised on a police officer who charged the motor bike driver with a lesser offence than Negligent Driving, the driver of the motor bike was not convicted with Negligent Driving.
Ian's medical costs would have approached $5,000, foregone income during rehab approached $10,000 and his legal costs $10,000 to litigate the negligent motor cyclist.
RISK WARNING: Cycling on public roads is dangerous. You can be doing everything right and still get hit by a negligent motorist.

(vii) In 2004 Paul Darvodelsky aka Darvo snapped both collar bones in a mountain bike fall. With no support for the cranium from both collars snapped, recovery is a painful and drawn-out process. Paul wanted to recover and did so, whereupon he was back on the bike in competition with two months.

RISK WARNING: Mountain Bike Cycling is dangerous. Due to an absence of motor vehicles, fatalities whilst Mountain Biking is much lower. However, due to the often unknown terrain, falls are frequent. such falls can cause brain injuries and nerve damage.

(viii) In early August 2006 Brian aka Whippet aged 70 was returning from an early morning ride with Lidcombe Auburn Cycle Club and hit a bollard in the middle of a pathway that Brian had cycled up several times previously. Brian's fall fractured the base of his skull and three vertebrae necessitating two operations on his neck to insert two plates and 10 screws.

Brian had a halo bolted to his skull for 6 weeks whilst the bones regrafted. Brian's medical costs would have approached $40,000.

RISK WARNING: Seasoned Cyclists in their 60s and 70s are more prone to cycling accidents than earlier in their lives due to diminished Cognitive Skills. Hence, keep your eyes focused in front at all times and ignore small talk.

(ix) On 24 Sept 2006 Guy de Carli aka Lawyer broke his collar bone when he slipped into the wide gutter on LHS of the shoulder on the M2. Guy was taken to hospital by ambulance. Guy was cycling two abreast in a loose Peloton heading West towards Windsor and had just passed a stationary car in the breakdown lane and when straightening up in juxtapose formation slipped into the large gutter and went down. Todd aka I.T. Nerd cycled over the top of Guy but didn't injury him further.

Guy's medical costs would have approached $3,000 and foregone income during rehab approached $5,000.

RISK WARNING: Some Cyclists enjoy riding in a tight formation known as a Peloton or "a bunch", because other cyclists ahead 'break-the-wind' thereby enabling cyclists behind them to travel faster. Unfortunately Cyclists die on Australian road each year due to falls in Pelotons. Many other cyclist experience serious accidents, possibly causing paraplegia, which would not have occurred on the same section of road if the cyclists in that Peloton had been cycling much further apart, spread out over say 3 times the distance and not riding two abreast.

Cycling in a Peloton requires ride participants to focus on additional aspects of cycling like speeding up and slowing down to sit approx. 300mm from the wheel in front and relying on hand signals from the cyclist immediately ahead to warn of upcoming parked cars, road drainage grids, potholes etc. Whereupon you have to then pass on the hand signal to the cyclist immediately behind him.

From time to time, road authorities run advertising campaigns to highlight how much longer it takes to pull-up travelling say at 60km p/h to driving say at 45km p/h. The same physics applies to cyclists reacting to a fall or upcoming Cycling Hazard if cycling 300mm off the wheel ahead than cycling say 10m apart. Hence, many seasoned cyclists avoid Peloton cycling.

(x) In August 2007 Brian aka Whippet aged 71 hit a pothole before sunrise in the dead of Winter en route to a Lidcombe Auburn Cycle Club early morning training ride and was picked-up by an ambulance suffering with a fractured pelvis. Brian's medical costs would have approached $10,000.

RISK WARNING: Seasoned Cyclists in their 60s and 70s are more prone to cycling accidents than earlier in their lives due to diminished Cognitive Skills. Hence, just because your eyesight allowed you to cycle at dawn years ago, your sight and brain speed have since diminished. You will likely be able to enjoy cycling for longer, if you temper your cycling expectations

(xi) On Friday morning 21 December 2007 Terry Perram aka Navigator was hit by a Toyota at Rhodes injured a leg and foot and wrote-off his bicycle worth $3,000.

RISK WARNING: Motorists can do unexpected things any time. When amongst traffic, always assume the worst could confront you.

(xii) Siggy Hoffman aka Smiling Assassin broke both hips in separate track falls in the late 1980s. In Jan 2006 Siggy broke his collar bone and femur at a “Cycling Blackspot” (detailed in Annexure “B2”) on the descent to Illawong Bay due to going too fast on a wet road. Siggy's medical costs would have approached $50,000 due to being hospitalised for 6 weeks and foregone income during rehab approached $5,000

RISK WARNING: Cycle slower on wet roads particularly through corners on down hills or if your bike has 23mm road tyres that are designed for dry roads.

(xiii) At 11am on Sat 13 May 2006 John aka BakerBoy was cycling on the LHS of the LH lane on Brisbane Waters Drive and was struck from behind by a Mazda Reg No. MX1595. John was flipped over the roof of the Mazda and came to a halt ahead of him prostrate on the roadway, as he strived to drag himself off the road onto the kerb. John was taken to Gosford Hospital by ambulance where he was X-rayed extensively. By some stroke of good fortune he had no fractures, but he was very stiff, saw, battered and bruised for the next few weeks. His bike, helmet, clothing, gloves and bike computer were damaged/destroyed. The negligent driver paid those costs which aggregated $2,835. The negligent driver's CTP Greenslip covered John's ambulance cost and doctor/physo's fee which probably cost $800/$1,000.

RISK WARNING: Cycling on public roads is dangerous. You can be doing everything right and still get hit by a negligent motorist.

(xiv) Peter Hammond aka Knees was hit by a car at Cnr of Mona Vale Road and Links Rd on Saturday 3 March 2007 necessitating spinal surgery at T7 at St Vincent's Private Hospital. The driver of the Toyota Camry was convicted of negligent driving.

Peter's medical costs would have approached $20,000, foregone income during rehab approached $20,000 and his legal costs $5,000 to litigate the negligent motor cyclist.
RISK WARNING: Cycling on public roads is dangerous. You can be doing everything right and still get hit by a negligent motorist. Don't take motor vehicles for granted. In tight situations, always assume a motorist can do the unexpected.

(xv) On Sunday 11 Nov 2007 Peter Tyson aka PacificPete was cycling north up Old Northern Rd in a loose single file Peloton on a Muggaccinos ride. Just north of Cattai Ridge Rd we were beset by thick fog. Pete hit a large rock on the road whilst travelling at about 35km p/h and broke 2 vertebrae. Peter's medical costs would have approached $3,000 and foregone income during rehab approached $2,000.
RISK WARNING: Don't cycle in a Peloton in thick fog. Cycle much slower when visibility is materially reduced.

(xvi) On Thurs 10 April 2008 Dr Ann Collins aka ToothFairy was involved in a horrific cycling accident on an annual charity ride from Hornsby to Surfers Paradise organised by Enmore Rotary for Father Chris Riley's Youth Off The Streets. Ann and her bike plummeted 40' off a timber bridge at Coffs Harbour onto rocks/gravel after her wheel became caught in between two longitudinal planks. Dr Collins has now been admitted to four hospitals (Coffs Harbour Hospital, St George Private Hospital, Liverpool Hospital and Westmead Rehabilitation Centre). Ann was winched out by helicopter. Her medical costs are already substantive and she may not be able to return to full time work as a dental surgeon.

Dr Collins opted to hug the LHS of the bridge on a wet day as she crossed over it because she was cycling on her own and there were some large trucks in the traffic. If Ann had crossed the bridge with at least one other cyclist, they would have ridden down the centre of the lane away from the edge of the bridge. The vast majority of the other 110 cyclists on that charity ride, crossed that bridge in the centre of the lane with at least one other cyclist. Patently, if Ann had her opportunity over again Ann would not have hugged the LHS to avoid the trucks. The ride organisers had a rule that no Cyclist in a Peloton would be left to ride alone. However, alas in the wet weather that occurred that rule wasn't adhered to. One knee got horribly mangled. Ann is back cycling although unable to manage +100km rides a day for 7 days when riding the annual Youth Off The Streets charity ride

Ann's medical costs will likely approach $250,000, helicopter cost $6,000, foregone income/productivity during rehab will approach $100,000 and legal costs $50,000 circa if Ann litigates the Road Authority responsible for the Coffs Harbour bridge without a crash rail.

RISK WARNING: If a cyclist is crossing an unstable surface such as a timber bridge, dismount and walk over the unstable section. If the cyclist considers the bridge surface to be safe, and there is not a dedicated shoulder (breakdown lane) then cycle along the centre of the lane ideally riding with another cyclist, rather than hugging the edge of the lane adjacent to the edge of the bridge where the surface may be less stable and there may be a deep fall.

(xvii) On Sunday 4 May 2008 Guy de Carli aka Lawyer was cycling SSW along Wisemans Ferry Rd with another cyclist, Greg P. 10m behind him. A few cars were coming towards Guy and Greg heading NNE. Suddenly two motor bikes drew out from behind the cars travelling in the opposite direction. Guy slowed his speed. Greg swerved to miss Guy but clipped his pedal and the two cyclists hit the road. The accident was out of mobile ‘phone range. Hence, concerned motorists couldn’t call an ambulance. Whereupon a motorists drove Guy and Greg to Hornsby Hospital.

Guy suffered a fracture at T6 and T7 in the lower section of his neck and a bulged intervertebral disc at T6/T7, necessitating a fusion at T6/T7 at Royal North Shore Hospital Spinal Unit.

Guy's medical costs will approach $25,000 and foregone income/productivity during rehab $15,000 circa.

RISK WARNING: If you opt to materially slow down due to a pending unexpected motorist, or other threat up ahead, always call out and warn cyclists behind you that you are materially slowing down.

(iixx) Sunday, 29 Nov 2009, Scott England suffered a serious spinal injury whilst cycling at a notorious Blackspot 200m before West Head Lookout which Phil Johnston had written to RTA 4 times previous with Annexure 'A' which detailed four Blackspots, but RTA never responded. Phil Johnston delivered his legal report dated 2 January 2010 to Scott England at Ward 7D – Spinal Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards NSW on 2 January 2010 after Scott England had been hospitalised in the Spinal Unit for 6 weeks. Phil Johnston has no idea of Scott England's recovery, however, it seemed very serious. Annexure 'A' to the Writer's letter lists 4 other bicycle accidents at the same infamous Cycling Blackspot.

(ixx) On Sat 16 Jan 2010 Kerry aka Miner took a nasty tumble on Bobbin Head Rd 400m before the Pacific Highway when his wheel got caught in a fresh new grove in the road caused by a negligent restoration of a side road. Click on pic 1 and pic 2. Ku'ring'gai council acknowledged its mistake and had the road resurfaced. Kerry did not litigate for misfeasance which resulted in punctured lung, seven broken ribs and a busted collar bone.

RISK WARNING: Keep alert for imperfections in the roadway, even shoddy roadworks.

(xx) On Thurs 25 March 2010, Tony aka Publican was hit by a hit and run driver on the Pacific Highway just south of Mt Colah as reported by the Hornsby Advocate. Tony was cycling south down the Pacific H’way and was about 50m south of the traffic lights at Belmont Ave when a car smashed him from behind. The lights are at the road where you can turn hard left and re-enter Bobbin Head. Tony wasn’t doing that. About 40m south of the lights commences about 80m of quasi rough surface cycle lane to the LHS of two traffic lanes heading south. Tony recollects being heading for that cycle lane or in it when he got walloped by a driver who failed to stop. Tony broke a few ribs, punctured a lung and broke a collar bone.

RISK WARNING: Even when exercising extreme care, a negligent motorist can hit you from behind.

(xxi) In mid April 2010 Paul aka Pilot was riding in a roundabout near Darling Harbour and the next thing Paul recalls is waking up in St Vincent’s Hospital. Paul thinks that he was clipped by a vehicle, but he can’t remember exactly what happened and that a passer-by found him unconscious on the side of the road, still clipped into his pedals. Paul's injuries were limited to a very sore noggin and a lot of bruises.

RISK WARNING: A disproportionate number of bicycle accidents occur at roundabouts, particularly at night, so exercise extreme care and be lit up like a Christmas tree if cycling a night.

(xxii) On 28 April 2010 around 7am Justine aka Trumpeter was cycling to work on the Epping Rd cyclepath which she had ridden many times before. Next minute she recalls taking a tumble and busting her collarbone when she lost a corner, incurring about $400 damages to her bike. Fortunately several other cyclists cane to her aid. Upon subsequent inspection of her treadley the front tyre was flat which may have caused he to over-correct on an angled path section, or perhaps the tyre went flat as a result of her tumble. Justine was released from RNSH to following day.

RISK WARNING: Accidents happen to experienced cyclists on familiar routes, so remain alert and focused.

(xxiii) On Sunday, 1 April 2012, Tony aka Yorkshire failed to see two cyclists ahead pull up for a red light and 'jack-knifed' going head first into the road when he slammed on his brakes getting a big lump on his temple, necessitating 6 hours in RNSH where he was 'imaged' from head to foot.

RISK WARNING: Stay at least one bike length from a cyclist ahead, and preferably several bike lengths in case the rider ahead brakes hard.

(xxiv) On Tues, 1 May 2012, David aka MountainGoat got hit from behind by a motorist (who said he didn't see David) entering a roundabout returning from work 'after-dark'. David had front and rear lights on, but obviously not bright enough. Broken wrist, bruised and grazed, smashed rear wheel and helmet. David subsequently suffered a

a massive 'chronic subdural hematoma' in his right brain hemisphere which was operated on in late July to remove it.
MountainGoat's altercation with an absent minded motorist who hit him in a roundabout brought the following responses from other commuters who ride with Muggaccinos which establish that roundabouts are a real concern when commuting:

*    "Thanks for thinking about us. I am very worried going into mini-roundabouts to make sure any drivers from the left have seen me. The roundabout near David aka CricketTragic (Ray Road and Kent Street) is a case in point. Side lights would help but even so sometimes even if you look like a Christmas tree they don’t/wont see you."
Bill aka Glasgow

*    "Yes, a woman hit me on the left while I was going through the large roundabout on Balaklava & Agincourt Sts, Eastwood where Curzon Hall stands. This was daytime, about 2:30 pm. At the time it was all so surreal. It seemed like in slow motion. I only got a bruised left leg. I ended up on her bonnet still clipped in. We were staring eye to eye only a metre or so apart. When I got off and walked to the footpath, she just drove off like nothing happened. All the traffic that we blocked then went on their merry way. I stood there wondering what to do. After a minute or so all I could do was keep riding home. My nerves were shot. It seemed like every intersection, pinch point seemed like tension.

     "I feel safer at night for being seen. I have 4 Ayup lights in front which alerts everyone. Drivers don’t know what is coming at them. Behind, I have a 1W. light on my saddle bag, a LED on my helmet and two LEDs on the bottom of my seat stay. I hope that these eight light beams not only give drivers more visibility, but also a 3D perspective. I then also wear fluro yellow ankle straps. Daytime is a bit tougher. I also believe that drivers are more stressed and aggressive in the afternoon. You cannot trust anyone in front or the sides will see you or stop. Pinch points cause a lot of friction but I always take the whole lane otherwise they will squeeze through. My main worry is a phone/text user or drunk/drug driver, not concentrating, veering off the road and rear ending me."
Scott aka PatternMaker

    Below is a list of Scott’s risk mitigation procedures of 8 separate light beams, reflectors and fluro vest:

     Two powerful twin Ayup lights (four lights) up front.

     One white light on his saddle bag.

     One LED on his helmet.

     Two LEDs on the bottom of his seat stay.

     Fluro yellow ankle straps made by Madison where he has affixed Velcro straps so they don’t fall off.

*    "Hi Phil,
Thanks for sharing and makes very sombre reading.
I agree with what Bill has put below regarding the fluros. I have been wearing my fluro vest riding to work for the past say 5 years. Previous to that I use to get numerous cars skidding behind me, but since the fluro vest was part of the commute – it’s much safer (at least in my mind) – I also use two good quality headlights and two back lights.
That is a terrible round about near Curzon Hall – It’s okay when I go through at 5.30am in the morning, but in the evening it’s a nightmare. People don’t like riding on the cycling ways on the freeways, but I find these backstreets just as dangerous.

     Two weeks ago I came the closest I’ve ever been to be written off on the bike – it’s on the same route that Scott would have been travelling if he was doing the M2 detour.   I was crossing Lane Cove Road at the pedestrian crossing where they have the bike light as well. I started to ride across the road when I had the green bike light and the cars on the Lane Cove Road had the red light. A young guy in a car up and by the sounds of his car I could hear that he wasn’t going to stop, I quickly braked and pushed my bike backwards – luckily he was able to swerve into the lane next to him as he went through the red light and narrowly missed me – without even stopping to say sorry. It took me the rest of the ride into the city to bring my heart rate down to a normal level.

     Riding on the road can be dangerous, but you do get the health benefits (it’s that old risk and reward thing)."

     Caroline aka PrincessCaroline

RISK WARNING: Make sure you and your bike are lit up like a Christmas tree, if you want to cycle at night, and be particularly cautious at roundabouts.