"Two bicyclists were injured and hospitalized after a head-on collision on the Capital Crescent Trail near Little Falls Parkway. This morning around 8:30, a cyclist headed for NIH moved around two pedestrians and into the path of an oncoming cyclist. Both cyclists were transported to Suburban Hospital for treatment. Investigation is still underway."
I checked in with Sgt. McNeill and asked if both cyclists were wearing helmets. I ask because one witness reported that both cyclists appeared to lose consciousness. McNeill says one cyclist was wearing a helmet, it's not clear if the second one was. (No fault-finding here, just curious: inside and outside the cycling world there is a heated debate on to-wear or not-to-wear. I note in my travels to Germany, France, Belgium, few cyclists wear them unless they are going for sprints or on teams. I'm interested in the issue.)
Police remind you:
- Warn when passing (call it out, use a bell)
- Pass only when safe
- Wear a helmet
- Do not wear headphones
- Stay to the right
- Yield to those passing you
My own analysis:
The Capital Crescent is a great trail. It is a much-loved trail-meaning it can get packed. At the time this crash occurred, it can host a lot of commuters--so the pace can be a bit faster than say, a Sunday afternoon.
Bottom line: it can get mighty crowded and not everyone's traveling at the same pace. And it's not a biker's trail. It's not a hiker's trail. It's a mixed-use trail. That can make it tricky.
I love this trail, but recognize it calls on all of us to exercise some caution, even when we'd love to let it fly. No blame here, no finger-pointing (I sometimes wear headphones, especially in the winter, cause they make great earwarmers!) but just a reminder. Look out for the other guy (in a good way) and stay safe. Wishing those cyclists a speedy recovery.
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