LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Thursday’s horrific crash that claimed the lives of five bicyclists is serving as a wake-up call for drivers to share the road with cyclists.
“It’s very sad to see such a big part of the community be brought down by this," said cyclist Clay Weeks.
Thursday’s crash hit hard for Weeks. He says the incident put a spotlight on the need to inform drivers about sharing the road with cyclists.
RELATED STORY: Vigil planned for 5 cyclists killed in crash south of Las Vegas
“All of us have had our fair share of close calls and probably anybody that you ask that’s been on a bike,” Weeks said.
Weeks wanted to emphasize the “three-foot rule” in Nevada which requires drivers to give at least three feet of space if they’re sharing the road. The law came after Pete Makowski died while riding his bike in 2013. His death was the inspiration for the campaign ”Three Feet for Pete”. It’s something the office of traffic safety is wanting to highlight.
“That level of destruction and life lost on our roadways is truly unacceptable and it’s always so important that we continue that conversation that these are not accidents, these are crashes, and they’re preventable,” Andrew Bennett said.
RELATED STORY: Routine bike ride near Boulder City turns deadly for group of cyclists
Weeks says it’s important for drivers to be aware as they may not realize how fast cyclists can be especially at intersections.
“I would even go as far as saying if you are on a road that has a left side lane, move over if it’s possible,” he said.
Ultimately, he wants to let drivers know that they’re not road obstacles and simply keeps the streets safe for everyone.
RELATED STORY: Coroner identifies cyclists killed in crash on US-95 outside of Las Vegas
“You want to give everyone, the equal opportunity to make it home safely to their families,” Weeks said.
