CALIFORNIA BICYCLE NEWS AND CYCLING SAFETY TIPS BLOG

Two Bicycle Accident Survivors Discuss Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury

Two bicycle accident survivors were guests at a public symposium hosted by the Brain Injury Research Center at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Actor Larry Miller and triathlete Greg Parks both suffered traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) from a bicycle accident. Both men shared their stories, talking about how their accident occurred and how they recovered. In 2012, Greg Parks was involved in a bicycle accident that left him with a TBI. He remembers riding in Santa Clarita the day the accident occurred, but the details of what happened are still fuzzy to him. Although he cannot remember the moments that led up to his accident, he does remember the four weeks he spent in the hospital and the rehabilitation that came after. Larry Miller, known for his roles in Seinfeld and Boston Legal, was in a near-fatal bicycle accident that left him on life support for a month. Miller had…
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Professional Cycling Adopts New Concussion Screening Standards

Concussions are some of the most common reasons cyclists seek emergency care after a bicycle accident. Even in the world of professional cycling, athletes are at risk for the common brain injury. Concussions in professional cycling were taken more seriously after Chris Horner crashed his bicycle during the 2011 Tour de France. After displaying signs of disorientation and confusion, the professional cyclist attempted to climb back onto his bicycle and finish the race. Unfortunately, Horner continued to suffer from dizziness and confusion for months after. How Do Professional Cyclists Handle Traumatic Brain Injuries? In the past three years, managing concussions in the sport of cycling has undergone changes. Cyclists can learn a lot from the UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Pro Cycling team. UHC has recently developed a new cognitive analysis capable of accurately and quickly detecting concussions, so athletes can get prompt medical attention. Before the beginning of a racing season, cyclists…
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Are Bicycle Accidents a Growing Problem for California Cyclists?

Police in Santa Monica have launched an operation focused on preventing collisions between pedestrians, bicycles and vehicles. According to the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD), the operation will map out several areas where bicycle accidents have occurred over the last five years and what kinds of violations caused accidents. Over 870 bicycle accidents have been investigated by the SMPD in the last three years. Police will be looking for drivers who are speeding, making illegal turns, running through stop signs and committing other moving violations. California leads the nation in pedestrian and bicycle accident deaths, which is a reason why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has given SMPD funds for this operation. Efforts by the SMPD raise an interesting question – how safe are bicyclists in California? In 2013, San Luis Obispo reported that despite its small population, the city had more bicycle accidents than cities twice its size….
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