'Unleashed Dogs' Are Biggest Danger, Local Bicyclists Say

BRISTOL, Tenn. – When asked to name the biggest danger to bicyclists who travel local roads, Hal Boyd answered unequivocally.

“Dogs,” he said. “Unleashed dogs.”

Boyd, of Boyd’s Bicycle Shop in downtown Bristol, Tenn., didn’t have to think about the question. After 55 years of cycling, he learned the answer decades ago.

“You want me to show you all the scars on my legs from all the times dogs have bitten me?” he asked.

On Monday, a 59-year-old physician from Fairfax, Va., was seriously injured when a dog chased after his bike and tried to grab the back wheel. The man was launched over his handlebars, landing on his face, while trying to kick the dog away with his right leg, said Washington County, Va., Deputy Erik Hinchey.

Police have not named the man because of difficulties locating his children, Hinchey said. He suffered two broken eye sockets, a broken nose and cranial bleeding and remained in intensive care at Bristol Regional Medical Center on Tuesday evening. Possible brain damage is a concern, Hinchey said.

The physician came to Bristol, Va., with his wife on Friday to join more than 1,800 cyclists who participated in Bike Virginia, a week long bike tour that draws cyclists from all over the country to the commonwealth for a biking vacation each year.

Other participants have suffered minor injuries as well, Hinchey said. On Tuesday, one man was airlifted to Bristol Regional after gaining too much speed on a hill and crashing into the back of a slow-moving car. He was treated and released.

Another biker fell after losing balance over a pothole, and was treated at the hospital and released, Hinchey said.

Boyd said situations like the doctor’s accident are why dog owners should keep their pets contained.

The owner of the German shepherd-mix, Trixie, involved in the incident was cited for having an unleashed dog, Hinchey said. She is due in court in August and faces up to $375 in fines.

The injured doctor’s condition was stable overnight, Hinchey said. However, his brain is swollen and the extent of his injuries are not fully known yet.

Road biking can be a dangerous, Boyd said Tuesday.

“It’s one of the glories of the sport,” he said. “We say there are two kinds of riders – those who’ve fallen and those who are going to.”

Boyd said in Bristol and surrounding areas, loose dogs are a primary concern. Second is traffic.

“You’re out there riding and they don’t realize you’re going 30 mph on a bike and basically aren’t protected,” he said of riding with motorists.

Michael Puglisi, 22, of Bristol, Va., a cyclist who rides at least 40 miles daily, said his biggest traffic scare is when a car tries to pass him with oncoming traffic in the other lane.
“That’s when my heart really starts pounding,” he said.

All agreed the most important safety precaution is to stay aware. Bikers should ride less-traveled country roads and always look out for debris on the ground and obey all traffic laws.

The Boyd and Puglisi shared a number of safety tips for cyclists. First, always wear a helmet that fits, they said.

Second, keep your eyes and ears alert. When traffic passes, Boyd said, bikers tend to ride closer to the shoulder or on the white line if there is no shoulder. However, the closer to the shoulder a rider gets, the more likely he’ll encounter litter or debris.

Also, don’t bike with head phones on, he said. Although Virginia state law allows bikers to have a head phone in one ear, Boyd said he would never ride with music. Try to avoid biking at night and make sure you have a mirror so you can see behind you.

Finally, while many believe there is safety in numbers, when road biking, the opposite is often true, Boyd said. Multiple bikers can accidently bump the tire of the person in front, he said. But no matter what causes a problem, with a group, when one biker falls, the riders behind often follow.

The same rules apply to the Creeper Trail, Puglisi said, adding he fell off his bike a few weeks ago while riding the trail.

“People get relaxed out there and there are more accidents. You stop paying attention and accidents can happen,” he said.

The two said bikers on the trail sometimes ride four alongside, blocking anyone else from passing. Or, they don’t know to pass to the left or call out their intension before passing. And, often when someone announces they’re passing, bikers need to know to stay right – just as when driving.

As for everyone else, drivers need to take special care when passing bikers and wait until there is a safe opportunity.

“You better not be looking around out there riding. You can’t be enjoying the scenery,” Boyd said. “Keep your eyes on the road.”

ahunter@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2531