Mass. Cyclist Killed In Arkansas During Cross Country (cycling) Trip

My son did this trip the summer before last - he was 16. His group started in Tybee Island but this year's group started in Charleston, SC. I could go on and on about the experience, both his as a rider and mine, as the anxious parent waiting for news from the ride. The ride, which is called American Challenge and is run by a group based in Williamston, MA called Overland, is supposed to be the most challenging thing a teenager could take on - 85miles a day over six weeks, carrying 40-50lbs of gear, in brutal summer weather. The scene at the finish is unrestrained joy for both kids and families alike and I'll never forget all that went into making the trip happen.

So, the news from McCrory, Arkansas is hitting really close to home. One of my son's ride-mates has a sister who is in the group that got hit. From their Facebook page, I understand she's ok but I can't stop thinking about the family of the poor girl who was lost. As a rider, I think I had a pretty heightened sense of the risks the group would face, but actually losing my son seemed so unlikely..I can only imagine what those parents are going through.

Son is shaken up/Dad is, as well...

Super sad. Why no charges!? If the kid hit another car it would, if nothing else, at least garner a `following too close' ticket. For killing somebody who was legally on the road, nothing?

Very sad. The one that died was flown to my hometown of Memphis. Very tragic. According to the local newspaper. The case has been sent to the local prosecutor and they are reviewing the case to see if charges are going to be filed against the driver.

In 2008 me and a friend cycled across Canada. We had just crossed into Manitoba and lost the shoulder. We had to ride in traffic, with semis and cars whizzing by at 110+ km/hr. We got to Winnipeg and we heard that a father/son duo who were cycling across Canada were killed just outside of Virden, 4 days after we passed through, on the same stretch of highway.

We basically took our lives into our hands daily during that ride. Even with shoulders drivers would pass much too close, and really didn't care that you were there. Even with double lane, and an empty lane beside them, they would not move over to pass you. There was basically overt hostility towards us. Like, what are you doing on my road you stupid cyclists.

I agree to a certain extent. There are some roads where I live that have a good bit of traffic that have high speed limits that don't concern me in a group but there are a few roads that I know have some blind corners and no shoulder that I'm scared to death to ride and avoid at all costs. Sometimes you have to take that road though. It sucks but it's true. Very sad story