– ODO- 10922 – 11062km
– Location- Agra, Utter Pradesh, India
– Weather- 13-20 light drizzle
Roll of the Dice
Today I learned that Alex Clark (who appeared on my podcast just a few months ago) was struck by a “semi” on a North American highway and seriously injured. Thankfully he’s alive but he won’t be riding a bike anytime soon.
We’d been introduced on Instagram while I was on the road in Turkey through a fellow cyclist. Although we didn’t meet in person his energy on the podcast and in his videos from the road kept me close to his adventure. In the time it took me to get to India he made it across through South East Asia and the whole of Australia and New Zealand. Every time I saw an update I marvelled at how far he’d gone.
As I pedalled into Agra through the Taj Mahal tourist traffic I had time to ponder the risk of cycling. Cycling by itself is not overly risky an activity. In the UK, “there are 8 million cycle trips for each cycling death and 27 million miles cycled for each death”. Granted we’re not cycling in the UK and around the world traffic safety and cycle awareness varies but the main factor that increases the risk is that we’re on the bike putting in time time after day.
While you’re in the office 9-5pm we are on the bike. Even longer most days. By sheer amount of time on the road the chances of an accident. At the end of the day, your life is at the whim of every driver. By doing what we love we roll the dice more than most.
Here’s to your recovery Alex.
