Riding on a Collision Course : Recent Fatalities Remind Bicyclists of Perils They Face When Mixing With Motorists

The death of a bicycle rider on Thursday in Santa Ana, the second such incident in two weeks, raised concerns anew about safety for the thousands of bicyclists who take to the county’s streets.

With warm weather approaching, the number of bicycle riders is expected to climb and officials are warning riders and motorists to be careful, especially during rush hours.

“Motorists just don’t look out for bike riders. They look out for other cars and pedestrians, never bike riders,” said Tommy de la Rosa, 32, of Anaheim.

Each year, more than a dozen bike riders are struck by motorists and killed in Orange County.

In 1992, 16 bicyclists died in the county, 13 of whom were killed by motorists. In 1991, 13 riders died and 11 of those deaths were the result of collisions with automobiles or trucks, according to a spokesman for the Orange County coroner’s office.

The latest death occurred at 4:20 p.m. Thursday when Patricia Ann Pryer, 38, of Santa Ana was hit by a tractor trailer while trying to cross 1st Street and Grand Avenue. She died at the scene.

Police said she was riding on the sidewalk and tried to cross the street in a crosswalk. She and the driver of the truck were headed in the same direction when they collided as the truck made a right turn.

Bicycle riders say that type of accident is common.

According to statistics compiled by the National Safety Council, more than 800 bicyclists are killed each year in the United States. Six hundred of those deaths occur in metropolitan areas.

On Jan. 19, 37-year-old Tom Cooper was riding his bike on Spurgeon Street in Santa Ana and was killed when he was hit and dragged by a car for more than 100 yards as the driver tried to shake him from the car by driving over a curve. Police are still searching for the driver.

Although the number of bicyclist deaths in the county rose in 1992, injuries to bike riders last year dropped more than 25% from the previous year, said Robin Ungerleider, spokeswoman for the National Safety Council. The drop in injuries was attributed to more riders using helmets.

Cheryl McConnell, past president of the Bicycle Club of Irvine, one of the largest clubs in the county, said helmets are a must, and have saved many of her fellow club members from serious injury.

“One time, me and a male friend were cut off by a young driver who didn’t see us in time,” McConnell said. “Without his helmet, he would have been seriously hurt.”

Bicyclists say a variety of dangers face riders, including increasing traffic and a lack of knowledge of traffic laws by motorists.

The growing number of trucks on the road is considered the most dangerous hazard for bike riders. In 1992, almost half of the bike fatalities were caused by trucks or off-road vehicles, said an Orange County coroner’s investigator.

Eric Luttropp, 21, of Orange, who works at a bike shop and rides regularly, said the problem with trucks is that many have cabs that are raised, making it difficult for the drivers to see over the hoods.

“They have all of these blind spots on them, which make it difficult to see bike riders,” Luttropp said.

Robert Kahler, owner of a Tustin bike shop and president of a 60-member bike club, said young drivers seem to pose additional problems.

“The young kids don’t care how fast they go,” Kahler said. “They see you coming and try to overtake you at an intersection. It happens all of the time.”

Kristy Price, 31, of Brea, also a bike rider, also blames some irresponsible young drivers for nearly causing her to crash on numerous occasions.

“One time, I was riding with a friend in a residential area when I heard loud music coming near me,” Price recalled. “When I looked back this guy was trying to grab me from the car. I was pretty scared. Seems you can’t do an innocent thing like riding your bike without worrying about your safety.”

Kahler warns bike riders against seeking retribution and instead advises that they keep a vigilant eye for potential accidents.

“It is not worth having an altercation with a car. The car is always going to win,” Kahler said. “Another thing is that a lot of people carry guns in their cars.”

Kahler, president of Veloce Santiago riding club, advises people to ride in groups and to always wear a helmet.

Most of the bike experts agreed that the population growth of Orange County and the increase in the number of cars makes riding a bicycle hazardous.

De la Rosa criticized motorists who rush to get home after work.

“They come storming from work barely stopping for other cars at signal lights. You can bet they are not going to see a bike rider,” De la Rosa said. “Car drivers think bikes shouldn’t be on the roads.”

Dave Suggs, 30, whose friend was struck by a car two weeks ago, agreed.

“I hear a lot of stories from other bike riders,” Suggs said. “The common thing is the drivers’ lack of attention. They don’t see the cyclists.”

Despite the hazards, McConnell says it’s the best outdoor sport available.

“If you are prepared, the sport is very safe,” McConnell said.

Wheels of Misfortune

Danger Zones Here’s how the cities rate, listed by total number of injuries and deaths.

1991-92 City 1991 1992 Change Santa Ana 204 161 -43 Huntington Beach 183 150 -33 Anaheim 193 147 -46 Newport Beach 91 92 +1 Garden Grove 87 76 -11 Costa Mesa 81 70 -11 Orange 104 68 -36 Fullerton 106 67 -39 Westminster 78 55 -23 Fountain Valley 37 49 +12 Cypress 38 48 +10 Irvine 58 48 -10 Buena Park 50 46 -4 La Habra 31 26 -5 Tustin 38 23 -15 Mission Viejo 12 19 +7 Yorba Linda 20 19 -1 Dana Point 8 18 +10 Lake Forest* -- 18 -- Brea 24 17 -7 Laguna Beach 19 17 -2 Placentia 20 16 -4 San Clemente 26 15 -11 Los Alamitos 13 13 N/C La Palma 8 12 +4 Seal Beach 12 11 -1 Stanton 13 11 -2 San Juan Capistrano 9 9 N/C Laguna Niguel 14 8 -6 Laguna Hills* 0 6 +6 Villa Park 0 0 N/C Unincorporated Areas 93 38 -55 County Total 1,670 1,373 -297

* City incorporated 12/20/91

Cyclists Killed or Injured

The number of Orange County bicyclists killed or injured dropped to a five-year low in 1992, down 25% from just two years earlier. 1988: 1,752 1989: 1,769 1990: 1,825 1991: 1,670 1992: 1,373 Sources: California Highway Patrol, Performance Bicycle Shop Researched by APRIL JACKSON / Los Angeles Times

Safety Tips

* Check tires for proper inflation. * Make sure hand brakes and pads are in good working condition. * Check batteries in headlight. * Wear a safety helmet and gloves. * Wear bright clothing, especially for early morning or night rides; fluorescent yellows and greens have proven to be the most visible. * Ride with flow of traffic and obey traffic signs; stop for yellow lights. Always watch for cars running red lights. * On designated bike trails and paths, follow the rules of the road including speed limits. * Use bike lanes rather than sidewalks. Courtesies * Always pass on the left; announce your move by calling out: “On your left, please.” * Use hand signals before turning. * If passing cars parked along the curb, hold your arm out to show motorists that you will be moving into a traffic lane. Ride far enough away from the parked cars to allow for any doors that may open. * Point out debris or potholes on road or path to other bicyclists.