Cyclists across the Triangle are calling for greater awareness and safer conditions on public roads after a car struck a group of riders near Holly Springs on Saturday. Police said Patrick Turner, 63, of Cary, died in the crash and 20 other people were injured.
The driver, Donald Robert Morris-Jones, 76, of Apex, faces more than a dozen felony charges, including hit-and-run and DWI. The crash has shaken members of the area's cycling community, including riders who were nearby when they learned what had happened.
Alejandro Sandoval, who participates in several cycling groups in Wake County, was riding with a different group in Holly Springs when news of the crash reached him. He described the impact as devastating, saying connections among local cyclists meant many knew someone in the group that was struck.
Sandoval said expressions of support for those affected have been accompanied by hostile comments online. He described seeing anger directed at cyclists beneath videos and news reports, including comments suggesting there were not enough accidents. Those reactions were overwhelming, he said, and felt personal to riders who know how exposed they are when sharing roads with cars.
North Carolina law permits bicycles on public roadways, and members of the cycling community are urging motorists to remain aware of their presence. Sandoval said cyclists understand the risks involved in road riding. His appeal to drivers was straightforward: "I would just like people to know that we both belong in the roads, drivers and cyclists."
Riding together can help make cyclists more visible, according to Sandoval. He said groups try to occupy the full lane so drivers can spot them from a distance or when coming around a curve. He also said groups often use lights and wear helmets as part of their efforts to protect themselves.
Despite those precautions, Sandoval said many riders have told him they are anxious about getting back on their bicycles. He described the fear of feeling air rush past as a vehicle overtakes a rider, saying that continuing to cycle means confronting that unease.
For Sandoval, the reasons to keep riding include building community and raising money for local charities. He said cycling clubs offer exercise alongside opportunities to form relationships with people from different walks of life, providing a way to connect with others rather than remain isolated.
