The scars on Kate Dunning's knees run about six inches from her kneecap to the top of her shin. She is neither shy nor self-conscious about the marks, which are indicative of 17 days in the hospital, three months in a wheelchair, six months of missed work, and four surgeries.
The scars are most precisely a reminder of July 2, 2002 - the day Dunning was hit by a car while riding her road bicycle through Tumalo on Highway 20. The Ford sports utility vehicle crossed the highway, its teenage driver never seeing Dunning until it was too late to stop. Both of her legs were broken (including her left femur) and to this day she still can't run, which was once a passion of hers.
Whether it's on the front page of the Oregonian or in the form of
impassioned blog posts on the Source website, the discussion of
"sharing the road" between cyclists and motorists has been nearly
ubiquitous in recent months. And if Dunning's experience proves
anything, it's the seriousness of what can happen when bicycles and
cars fail to coexist on Central Oregon roads.
"This was kind of a
freak accident, the guy was looking to cross a busy highway and just
didn't see me," said Dunning, an accountant who's lived in Bend for 12
years. She continues, however, to say that although she's returned to
her bike, she still is continually baffled by cyclists who ignore even
the most basic riding etiquette. She is equally miffed by the faction
of motorists who seem to have it out for cyclists, including the
youngsters who once tossed a Coke with ice at her as they drove past.
