Minister Alden McLaughlin was not the only one who wrecked his bike toward the end of May.
Mr. Sullivan |
Cyclist Bill Sullivan was hit 23 May at Vampt Motors on Walkers Road, George Town. The accident happened at 7.30am as Mr. Sullivan was travelling on his way to work.
Mr. Sullivan sustained a broken hand, bruised ribs and a bruised chin and scrapes all over his body.
He said he was travelling in the direction of Vigoro Nursery when a female driver in a red car swerved into him. He was jammed in between the car and the sidewalk.
A staff member at Dart Management, Sullivan’s employer, said she saw the accident happen.
She said Mr. Sullivan went flying end over end onto the side of the road.
Mr. Sullivan said he remembers distinctly the period after the crashed.
‘I remember hitting the sidewalk and looking for my glasses and my water bottle. The water bottle ended up crushed on the other side of the road.
‘I also remember how much shock I was in. The lady who hit me offered to take me to the hospital but I refused her help. All I could think to do was keep travelling to work.’
News of Sullivan’s accident came to light after the recent coverage of Minister Alden McLaughlin’s crash.
Sullivan says his sympathies go out to Mr. Alden and his family.
‘It’s unfortunate. It can happen to anyone. I also feel like his accident was a typical example of how fragile a bike is.
‘Accidents will happen in doing any sport. Cycling is no different.’
Mr. Sullivan is reportedly paying some $700 in medical expenses. These expenses do not include future check-ups and procedures. His broken hand is expected to heal in six weeks.
Mr. Sullivan, who lives in South Sound, has been cycling to work for the past three months. In that time he has been in two accidents and five near-collisions.
The presence of roads works plays a significant part in bike accidents, he said.
‘Road works [by the National Roads Authority] should better accommodate fixing back the roads. They tend to toss you around.
‘One big example of this is by the Waterfront. It is horrible there because the road is all cut up.’
He said hiss mishaps, like so many other cycling accidents, result primarily from bad road manners.
‘There are lots of bad drivers on Cayman’s roads. The amount of times I’ve had to hit the brakes to avoid an accident is way too much. It’s ridiculous. I didn’t think Cayman could get this way.’
Mr. Sullivan says there needs to be greater awareness for cyclists on the roads.
‘There is always a police push for cycling education, for cyclists to follow proper safety measures. However, there needs to be a police push for drivers to be better aware of cyclists.
‘Cayman’s roads are very dangerous. I won’t let my son on the road without me and his helmet. Single bike riders are in more danger than a group.
‘This latest accident will definitely make me watch vehicles more and think about what they’re doing.’
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