“There's an important message for bicyclists here. It is recommended that bicyclists visit their local bike stores for brochures and information on recommended routes of travel, instead of riding on open roadways.”
— New Mexico State Police Lt. Eric Garcia, giving “advice” after a bicyclist was struck and killed on US Highway 70 near Las Cruces of the weekend, Las Cruces News-Sun, March 6, 2011.
This comment has frosted bicyclists in New Mexico, as it appears the state police are taking away bicyclists' rights to the road.
Struck from behind
Ronald Fronczek, 63, was riding his bicycle uphill on Highway 70 in the far right lane of traffic when was he was struck from behind by a small pickup. He died at the crash scene. The driver of the pickup was Larry Houck, identified by other sources as a law enforcement official at the White Sands Missile Range.
Lt. Garcia said Fronczek was riding in the roadway and the motorist didn't see him. “State Police currently have no intention of citing the driver.”
Highway 70 in the area of the crash is three lanes with a posted speed limit of 70 mph. Just for the record, the Las Cruces bicycle map shows Highway 70 as “heavy traffic with shoulder.”
No place else to ride
The blogger at Los Alamos Bikes points out in regard to the police spokesman's comments about the open road:
“After all, in most parts of New Mexico, thar just ain't no options other than the 'open road'.”
Pablo Lopez, manager of Outdoor Adventures in Las Cruces, was asked about the location where the bicyclist was killed in “Doctor's death moves colleagues, patients, cyclists..”
“It's a frequent route for recreational cyclists and those who commute over the pass on two wheels to work at WSMR (White Sands Missile Range). U.S. 70 is a state-approved bicycle route and also serves as a training route for many cyclists.”
Fronczek was an optometrist in Las Cruces since 1995 and frequently rode his bicycle along Highway 70, ending with a climb up St. Augustine Pass.
Bikes can use roads
Apparently, the New Mexico cycling community has run afoul of Lt. Garcia before, who has been quoted that bicyclists must yield to cars on narrow roads, and that police officers can order bicyclists off the road for impeding traffic.
The Albuquerque Journal looked into it and found that no one had secretly taken away bicyclists rights to the road. “Plain and Simple; Bikes on Roads OK.”
My condolences go out to the friends and family of Dr. Fronczek, a local optometrist. And I wish bicycle advocates luck in getting New Mexico state police to consider bicyclists as road users on an equal footing with motor vehicles.
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