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September 10, 2004
Head-Ons
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If you ride a lot at Clear Creek, especially in the Clear Creek drainage, you are likely to have a head-on with another rider or at least a close call. Knock on wood, I have been very fortunate over the years. The last one I remember was on a snowy morning ride two winters ago. I was out working on the enduro and had to dive into the bank on T115 to avoid three riders racing up the road around a turn.
Years ago my brother-on-law Brian had one bad one and you will not find him leading a group, ever. Now, with more and more quads showing up in Clear Creek, I think it inevitable that there are more people being hauled out of the Creek to the hospital. The Dirt Ranger, William, was the victim of such an accident back in March and I am sure that some of you reading can relate, having had your own close calls or collisions. Most go unreported because no one dies or has to be flown out of the Creek. A couple people I know suffered as a result of a head-on this past year besides William. Joe from Faultline Suspension tore up a knee (I recall) and Joan, daughter of one of our club members, also suffered leg injuries in a tangle with another rider.
I was talking with her father, Al, a couple weeks after the accident that occurred over thanksgiving weekend and he was very upset, not only because of the accident but also because of the BLM's rumored plans to shut down routes in Clear Creek. I suggested that he write a letter to me to document the incident and his thoughts. These same thoughts were later sent to Bob Beehler at the BLM. Here is Al's letter:
Ed,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding my daughter Joan’s injuries sustained while riding at Clear Creek. Although she is going to be all right in a few weeks, she is missing the first month or so of the basketball season which is breaking her heart. We both know that she is lucky her injuries were not much more severe.
The current state of her injuries notwithstanding, the subject of her accident has provoked me to analyze what happened and why. Inherently, we know that motorcycling carries with it some risk. Being a pilot, I know that the elimination of such risks is only possible through abstaining from our favorite activity. Our option is to acknowledge the risks associated with our chosen pastimes, and manage those risks so as to minimize the likelihood of an accident or injury. So how can we manage the risk of a head-on off-road collision such as my daughter experienced and consequently make the level of risk acceptable?
We have before us a couple of obstacles in the path to relative safety. First of all, you are aware that I am an automobile dealer and as such I am acutely aware of sales of new vehicles (dirt bikes included) both county- and state-wide. I don’t think this will come as a surprise, but while new car sales have been in a steady decline, the last three years has seen annual new dirt-bike sales nearly triple. This sales success has been further energized by such TV shows as the “X-Games” and Disney’s movie “Motocrossed”. Attendance at off-road motorcycle races is continuing to increase and has far exceeded even the population at similar events held in the early 1970’s, previously considered off-road’s heyday. This type of participation is appreciated by you and me, but has conspired to cause significant crowding at our already undersized off-road riding areas. On the day of Joan’s accident, for example, Hollister Hills had closed its gates at about 9:30 a.m. because there was simply no more parking. This sent a large overflow into Clear Creek, causing an already-crowded area to become inundated. It is no surprise that this situation is ripe for multiple accidents.
The second obstacle we have is that not only are there more riders enjoying the sport with their families, there are also trail closures and fencing that concentrate the riders into smaller areas. This situation exponentially increases the chance for an accident to occur. I am aware that there is consideration being given to closure of almost half of the current trails in Clear Creek. This is the exact opposite of what is needed for public safety! Effectively, cutting the riding area in half is doubling the number of riders in the area available. This situation does not simply double the number of opportunities for an accident. The effect of doubling the concentration is exponential and will have disastrous consequences. Imagine for a moment doubling the amount of cars in Los Angeles!
In short, shrinking the size of the already-too-small riding areas we have available to us is not acceptable. Besides civil and financial liability for an accident, I believe the government has a moral liability to its citizens and their safety. Besides, it would be kind of hard for me to pay my exorbitant taxes when I’m laid up because of an accident that would have had far less chance of happening with plentiful off-road areas, don’t you think?
Al
I have raised similar issues before at TRT meetings and most recently to George Hill at the RMP Scoping Meeting in San Jose. Will they heed what Al and others have been telling them? It certainly isn't reflected in their DEIS!