Maryland Cyclist Severs Artery in Crash - Baltimore and Annapolis Trail


[B' Spokes: You know, maybe trails should get a safety audit every 10 years or so. Just as things along the road side have design standards for cars that might hit them (e.g. signs have to be high enough so when stuck by a car the sign goes over the top of the car and not through the windshield.) Tails and cyclists deserve the same consideration. A picket fence next to the trail... that alone does not sound like a great idea, was there an adequate clear zone? And there are probably other design considerations as well that should have been done.]
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SEVERNA PARK - A 59-year-old man was rushed to a hospital with life-threatening injuries after his bike crashed into a fence along Baltimore and Annapolis Trail on Tuesday afternoon.

Just after 1 p.m., when county fire and rescue personnel arrived near the ranger station at 51 W. Earleigh Heights Road, they found the man suffering from a severed artery in his left thigh, fire department spokesman Battalion Chief Steve Thompson said.

The man had been riding his bicycle on the trail and had looked down. When he looked up, he struck a split rail-fence along the trail, Thompson said.

The man's bike went through the fence. The bike's left handlebar went through the man's thigh, Thompson said.

The bicyclist was taken to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore by ambulance.

<a href="http://www.jems.com/article/news/maryland-cyclist-severs-artery-crash">http://www.jems.com/article/news/maryland-cyclist-severs-artery-crash</a>;

by B' Spokes

Like most people I live a hectic life and who has the time for much exercise? Thanks to xtracycle now I do. By using my bike for daily activities I can get things done and get an hour plus work out in 15 minutes extra of my time, not a bad deal and beats taking the extra time going to the gym. In case you are still having trouble being motivated; the National Center of Disease Control says that inactivity is the #2 killer in the United States just behind smoking. ( http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/bb_nutrition/ ) Get out there and start living life! I can carry home a full shopping cart of groceries, car pool two kids or just get lost in the great outdoors camping for a week. Well I got go, another outing this weekend.
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From the news story and http://binged.it/Q8qQTI, it appears that there was indeed a split rail fence right next to the path, not a picket fence. I agree a picket fence would be a particularly bad idea. However, any fence, even a split rail fence right at the edge of the trail is poor planning. The rest of the trail in the area seems to have a grass border.

Judging from the image at the link, the fence may belong to the park service.