CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Two separate close calls and road-rage incidents with vehicles this weekend -- in different parts of the city -- proved to be a little too close for comfort for Corpus Christi cyclists.
"One gentleman decided he didn't like us cycling on the road," Lee Pradia said.
The driver in the video was shown going around a group of cyclists, putting on the brakes in front of them -- then proceeding to yell at the riders he felt should get off the road.
"You're angry, but you are also trying to defuse because the law of tonnage," he said about dealing with such issues. "I don't want to get run over."
Pradia told 3NEWS that the incident was one of many that he recorded on his bike camera, one of which happened within a 100 yards of his home.
"This happens to us almost every time we ride," he said. "You take a deep breath and focus on why you ride."
Lee is part of a team of cyclists called Team Life Cyclists, or TLC -- one of at least a dozen different cycling groups in Corpus Christi.
But are these close calls worth riding?
"You know why its worth it for me?" he said. "At one point I couldn't walk -- riding for me keeps me moving, its a quality of life."
Gerardo Gomez started the group that now is made up of 50 riders with various levels of cycling experience.
He said the riders are trained on the rules of the road, and that they are taught to stop, look and listen. But even with proper training, Gomez said that he has still seen the number of close calls increase.
"When we go back and look at what is happening with the motorist, and why it's getting hostile: I'm not sure," he said. "To me, I believe its lack of knowledge and education."
Also an avid cyclist, Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni said his own riding group had a close encounter this weekend on Ocean Drive, when a Jeep came within inches of one of the riders.
"It was too close and we feel it was unnecessary," he said. "Clearly Ocean Drive has two drive lanes -- the Jeep could have gone to the left lane, and stay clear of the cyclist."
Rules of the road
Cyclists are allowed on the road, meaning if you're in a car, you must yield to cyclists when they have the right of way.
Corpus Christi's ordinance said you must be at least 3 ft. from the cyclist when passing; that distance changing to 6 ft. if you drive a truck.
For bicyclists, the same rules apply as if you're driving a car: That means bicyclists are required to stop at signs, red lights, and yielding to others that have the right of way.
If there's a bike lane, the cyclist should use it when it's open and free of obstacles.
Zanoni said that sharing the road is essential to maintaining public safety.
"We encourage individuals to slow their speed and share the roadway, be mindful and courtesy of each other and protect lives," he said.
Gomez said cyclists will never win against a car, and that education and awareness are important to both cyclists and drivers.
"We as cyclists have to take the responsibility and own it to have awareness and prevent accidents and look for traffic," he said. "No different from when we get behind the wheel of a car, we have to follow the law."
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