Cyclist’s appeal after road crash

Cyclist’s appeal after road crash

24 February 2016

A DOWNPATRICK cyclist who defied the odds to survive a serious accident has appealed to motorists to be alert to riders as the racing season begins.

Dennis Rooney suffered traumatic injuries, including a broken neck, back, shoulder and ribs, when he was knocked off his bicycle by a van two days after Christmas.

Although he has no memory of the accident, which happened in a 50mph zone on the Saintfield Road, 69 year-old Dennis underwent stabilising surgery to his neck and spent a fortnight in hospital before returning home where he has been told to expect a long recovery.

With the 2016 road racing season launched at Nutts Corner on Sunday, Dennis said he hopes his experience will encourage motorists to be more aware of the potential danger they pose to cyclists.

The latest statistics show a spike in cycling accidents with 62 cyclists killed or seriously injured and 271 slightly injured in 2014, which is the highest level recorded since 1997.

Dennis said he believes the increasing popularity of the sport, since the 2012 Olympics and the success of the UK’s Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome in the Tour de France, means more riders than ever are vulnerable on the roads.

With a dearth of adequate cycle lanes in the area, he believes the only way to prevent serious accidents like his own is to properly educate motorists to be more aware of cyclists and their vulnerability.

“My accident was eight weeks ago but it does feel like a lot longer. It has been difficult keeping the pain under control and has been a big adjustment not being able to get about properly,” he said.

“A cyclist will always come off worse in any accident and if they survive their injuries can be life-changing.

“My accident happened totally out of the blue and I was hit from behind. Cyclists are at the mercy of motorists and that is why I would urge drivers to be aware, particularly now in the spring-time as the new racing season begins.”

Having spent many years commuting from Downpatrick to Ballynahinch on his bike, Dennis said he had been involved in a couple of minor accidents over the years caused by drivers not giving a wide enough berth. 

“In my experience very few motorists indicate and pull out,” he said.

“Many times I was almost forced off the road because a car, a bus or a lorry came too close and I know I am not alone in that experience.

“It is a real problem for cyclists and it is both frightening and dangerous when it happens. I think too many motorists are unaware of the Highway Code and the fact that cyclists should be given the same distance as a car when being overtaken.

“It is something that should be really emphasised to drivers in the same way it is in other European countries that are properly geared up for cyclists.

“People are encouraged to get out and about, keep fit and minimise the use of their cars and cycling allows this, yet cyclists need so much more protection than they currently have.

“We need more proper cycle lanes. We need to follow the example of France and Spain where, if they are building a new road, a cycle lane is built with it.”

Although he knows his recuperation will take time, Dennis said he is determined to one day get back on a bike.

“The accident has not made me afraid to cycle because it is such a huge part of my life. It is so important for me to keep fit and I have been told my aerobic fitness is what helped me survive the accident,” he said.

“I can’t imagine not cycling because it is what I do. The most difficult thing in the meantime, other than dealing with the pain, is being forced to be inactive.”

A cabinet-maker by trade, Dennis said he is battling potential boredom by exploring a new craft.

“Cycling is a big hobby as is woodworking but unfortunately a lot of what I did in my workshop is impossible for the time being,” he said.

“I went online and came across tutorials on how to work with clay and acrylics on canvas and it has been very enjoyable learning something new.

“Experimenting with a few different disciplines has actually proven to be very therapeutic.”