A cyclist, who claims he was lucky to escape serious injury after a collision with a public bus, has warned that dangerous drivers are making Cayman’s roads hazardous for people on bikes or on foot.
The man, who asked not to be named, collided with the back of a bus which pulled to an abrupt stop in front of him near Hurley’s roundabout.
The incident, which occurred just over a week ago, was only made public over the weekend through a social media video.
It has since been reported to the Public Transport Unit.
The Cayman Compass has reached out to the Ministry for Transport and Development for comment on the incident and is awaiting a response.
The cyclist said he believes motorists do not show due care and caution around riders and walkers. “It’s like we are a nuisance on the roads,” he said.
Driver was alerted
The cyclist, who didn’t want to be named, told the Cayman Compass that the interaction between him and the bus driver started from near the Hurley’s roundabout when he said the bus came perilously close to him.
He said he slapped the side of the bus, which cyclists usually do to alert the driver that he or she is too close in case they do not see the rider.
“This has happened dozens of times. This is not an infrequent occurrence. Cyclists use this method to alert vehicles of their being too close, and if I can reach out and tap the car that means you’re under two feet… so too close,” he said.
He did this two or three times to alert the bus driver, he said, and “I thought that was the end of the interaction.”
However, the cyclist said the driver then followed close behind and eventually pulled in front and stopped, which led to the collision.
The cyclist, who suffered cuts and bruises and sprained two fingers as he fell, said he is thankful he was not more severely injured or hit by oncoming traffic.
He said he was grateful to a female motorist who saw what happened and stopped alongside him to shield him as he lay on the roadway.
Such incidents, he said, are “not uncommon,” on Cayman’s roads.
“You have to go out there and kind of assume you’re going to be risking your life at some point during every ride,” he said.
That potential danger was one of the reasons he installed cameras on the front and rear of his bike, and he said he was glad he was able to record what happened to him.
The cyclist said in his 35 years of cycling he’s had near misses before, but had been left shaken by this incident. He urged drivers to take special care around cyclists and leave at least three metres of space when they overtake.
“We’re very vulnerable. The slightest contact with us results in major injury,” he said.
Related Videos
Absolutely right. We have stopped cycling altogether as it’s just too dangerous.
Of course it’s a tiny minority of drivers that are so inconsiderate, but it just takes one to put a cyclist in hospital or worse.
Very sorry to hear. Hope you’re doing better. I have certainly witnessed this too many times, but I’m posting to get feedback from experienced riders on a different situation. On the northern section of west bay road, I came up behind two cyclists riding side by side. I slowed to less than 20mph but they stayed side by side. I tapped my horn in case they hadn’t seen me but they gave me an angry gesture. I eventually passed them but I was closer than if they were single file. What is the proper etiquette in this case?
I’m a runner and I frequently run on Esterly Tibbetts between canal point & Camana bay which has a wide shoulder marked off by a solid white line. Every run I encounter speeding cars that cut into the shoulder and come dangerously close. It appears to be a game of “chicken” with some.
Anne Evans
Spouse of Subscriber
Law Enforcement needs to be more assertive in tracking, monitoring and enforcing the Law on criminal behavior of motor vehicle drivers.
The Hurley’s roundabout is a danger to everyone – walkers, riders, and drivers.