Cross-country trip promotes bike safety

Day nine of Pearson and Peter Constantino's cross-country bicycle trip brought them through Mountain Home on Aug. 20 as they made their way across the country on Highway 20.

For the brothers, it's a trip more than two years in the making. The two started planning the trip a month before Pearson was hit from behind on his bicycle on June 29, 2006, in Greenburgh, N.Y.

The hit-and-run accident broke his L2 vertebrae, femur and pelvis and left him unconscious. He spent nine days in the hospital and still struggles to deal with the pain today.

Within days, Pearson decided he hadn't taken his last bike ride and started planning for the trip again. The two began in Newport, Ore., on Aug. 12, Pearson's 30th birthday, just four days after his final physical therapy appointment. They expect to finish in Boston Oct. 1.

The brothers ride alone while a two-person documentary crew follows close behind. The film, "The Long Bike Back," is expected to be out next spring or summer. Director/producer Julia Wrona said the film is a story about inspiration to achieve anything and overcoming obstacles.

Peter calls his brother inspiring and said he has a hard time keeping up with him. The two have been riding together since growing up in New York, where they both live in different cities today.

Understandably, bicycle safety is a big issue for the brothers.

"Every day we hear about the person who went on a bike ride and never came back, that almost happened to my brother." Peter said. "That's why we got behind this."

Pearson's bicycle safety motto is, "loud is cool." He encourages bicyclists to be as verbal and loud as they can, to wear bright clothing and to be obvious with their intent so drivers know what they are doing.

"It's really important to give a wave and to make eye contact, let them (drivers) know what you are doing," Pearson said, who was hit from behind by a vehicle." Drivers don't know what bikers are doing, let them know."

Peter encourages riders to anticipate what is coming ahead. He said bicycling has become more dangerous with the increased number of cars on the road and the number of distraction in those cars.

Tony Haberland, owner of Tony's Bicycle Shop, said he hears of car-on-bike accidents from his customers that are minor and may not have been reported to the police. He isn't sure how many occur a year but knows that accidents do happen in Mountain Home.

He echoed the Constantino's thoughts on wearing visible clothing and being obvious to traffic.

Jim Patterson, community affairs officer for the Mountain Home Police Department, acknowledges accidents have occurred in Mountain Home but said they are not a problem in town.

He said the public has to be aware there are an increased number of bicycles on the road as the school year starts and drivers turn to bikes as a result of high gas prices.

"Just be aware around schools and there are more people on bikes with gas prices being high," he said. State laws require a white light that is visible to oncoming traffic from 500 feet away and a rear reflector be equipped on bicycles being operated at night. Haberland encourages the use of a red tail light, although it is not required by law. He also endorses the use of a helmet, which also isn't required by law.

Under state law, riders: are to ride only two abreast on the highway; may not carry any packages, bundles, or articles that prevent them from operating their bike with at least one hand; and are required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and "shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian or another bicyclist when traveling on sidewalks."

Bicycles should shall not be used to carry more persons at one time then the number it is designed and equipped to carry and riders may not attach themselves to any vehicle while in motion.

Riders should give a hand signal of their intention to turn right or left not less than 100 feet from turning, unless the hand is needed to control the bicycle. When approaching a stop sign, riders shall slow down, and if required for safety, stop before entering the intersection. After slowing to a reasonable speed or stopping, the rider shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle in the intersection or an approaching vehicle that crossing would constitute an immediate hazard.

A person operating a bicycle approaching a red traffic light must stop before entering the intersection, except they may make a right-hand turn, or a left-hand turn on a one-way road, without stopping, after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way if required.