Not every dangerous incident on the road involves a distracted driver or a close pass. Sometimes it is an overloaded dump truck with an unsecured tailgate, doing 50mph past a group of cyclists on a quiet country road, spilling rock across the tarmac as it goes. This UpRider had his cameras rolling, and knew exactly what to do next.
UpRide turns daily rides into data that drives change.
Every UpRider has a story. Here is Kurt’s.
What happened prior to this incident and why do you record your ride?
A group of ten cyclists from the COWs (Central Oregon Wheelers) were completing a 50-mile loop from Alfalfa to Prineville to Bowman Dam. The group was stretched out over three miles along a rolling downhill segment of a quiet country road when a large tandem dump truck hauling half-inch to one-inch rock rolled past at 50+ mph. The truck appeared overloaded and the tailgate was not secure, allowing rock to spill onto the roadway and bounce directly into the path of the cyclists.
When do you feel most vulnerable as a cyclist?
When vehicles pass and then make a right turn. Too often drivers underestimate the speed of a cyclist and how quickly, or rather, how slowly, a bike can stop.
What do you think are the most important things that can be done to improve safety for cyclists on the road?
Wider road shoulders or marked bike lanes, combined with better driver education on how to pass cyclists safely. Cyclists also need to follow the rules of the road and ride predictably. And I strongly recommend flashing white front lights and flashing red rear lights on both the bike and helmet, be as visible as possible.
Did you report your incident? What was the reporting process?
I reviewed the footage from my Fly12 and Fly6 and edited it into a single video. I also had a photo showing where the truck had spilled a large amount of rock at an intersection. One of the other cyclists did some investigating and located the only rock quarry in the area. I emailed both the Crook County and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Departments with a short description of the incident, links to the video and photo on Google Photos, and a suggestion of the quarry the truck may have come from. A Crook County Sheriff’s officer responded to say he would be contacting the quarry and would follow up with me.
What is your advice for other cyclists?
Ride safely and predictably, watch for vehicles turning across your path, and record everything with Cycliq.
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