A crash near Holly Springs that killed a Cary man and injured 20 other bicyclists on Saturday, November 7, has left members of the Triangle cycling community grieving and calling for patience from drivers. Police identified the man who died as Patrick Turner, 63, of Cary.
Lin Osbourne, a Capital Cycling Club member, told WRAL News that he frequently rides with the cyclists involved, although he was not with them Saturday morning. He said those closest to him were safe, but he knew nearly everyone in the group. For Osbourne, the crash underscored that riders cannot control every danger they encounter, even when they take precautions themselves.
Osbourne said cycling gives the group an opportunity to spend time outdoors and enjoy one another's company. He acknowledged that roads serve multiple users and said riders make safety a priority. He urged motorists to do the same and to recognize cyclists as people sharing the road.
The response extended to TeamCBC, another nonprofit cycling club in the Triangle. A member announced on Facebook that its Sunday ride had been canceled out of respect for the rider who died and those injured during the Capital Cycling Club outing. The post also expressed support for everyone affected.
Shaun King of the nonprofit Bike Durham described the crash to WRAL News as a devastating event for both a family and the wider cycling community. He said group rides bring together committed athletes seeking safety and a shared experience. King, who has ridden with the Capital Cycling Club, also spoke of his anxiety while awaiting information about whether someone he knew was among those affected.
Many Bike Durham cyclists have connections to the Capital Cycling Club, King said. He described the club as a responsible group with a long history of riding safely. For more than 30 years, he said, it has raised money for multiple sclerosis through its July 4 Firecracker Ride. Those ties have left fellow riders worried in the aftermath of the crash.
King urged drivers to extend the same patience to cyclists on country roads that they would offer someone taking extra time at a store checkout. Aggressive passing, he said, frightens riders and creates stress without resolving the situation. He appealed to motorists to wait and pass safely, emphasizing the importance of protecting lives.
Turner and other bicyclists will be remembered at a November 15 candlelight vigil during Bike Durham's World Day of Remembrance, King said. The event honors pedestrians and cyclists killed in crashes. He said remembering the rider lost Saturday would be part of the community's difficult process of healing together.
Osbourne said he intends to continue road cycling after about 40 years of riding, while recognizing that each cyclist must make that decision individually. He has already changed when he rides to avoid heavier traffic. Although he considers some risk unavoidable, he said he hopes people sharing the roads will treat one another with consideration.
