KVOA is reporting that car dealer and avid cyclist Jim Click was injured in a bicycle crash while coming down Mt. Lemmon.
Here’s a snippet from the article:
Tucson – Southern Arizona car dealer and philanthropist Jim Click is recovering at St. Joe’s Hospital after being injured in a bicycle accident on Catalina Highway. KVOA has confirmed Click suffered broken ribs, a broken shoulder and a punctured lung.
According to the report, Click hit a rock while going 35 miles per hour and went down.
Prayers for a speedy recovery
Ditto.
Ouch! Rib and lung injuries. Those REALLY hurt.
Hope he has a speedy recovery.
I’m sorry that Mr. Click has recently taken a tumble, and I hope he recovers in short order. But this man is no ally of the alt transportation community. His dealerships were instrumental in putting down a 2003 grassroots campaign that would have brought light rail to Tucson. Mr. Click has set our city back by nearly a decade in this regard and no amount of sympathy for his injuries should erase this very import political history.
Frankly, to me, this is emblematic of the primary problem with the Tucson cycling community (also evident within the BAC): too many privileged white dudes who like to ride but don’t stress themselves too much over the transportation needs of others.
rynsa
Here’s hoping he recovers quickly. He’s a cyclist, and at this time that’s all that matters. It’s says a lot about someone who choose the moment of some other person’s physical misfortune to attack that person.
Fractured ribs? Injured lungs? That’s more than a tumble.
rynsa,
you’re a jackass.
rynsa,
you’re a jackass.
In the context of the blog entry it does not make sense to me to extend the conversation into the political. Jim Click is just some cyclist who was injured and Mike regularly reports these types of accidents.
I am somewhat troubled by the reaction posts. Name calling implied and direct doesn’t add to this discussion either. My strong preference would be to avoid the meta and just move on. I do understand the irony of my post.
Okay, I can’t seem to find where my flame-proof suit is at the moment, but here goes…
I agree with part of rynsa’s post. And that would be the second paragraph.
I see quite a bit of elitism, excessive focus on athleticism, and sexism in bicycling. I also very strongly agree with the privileged and white not getting too stressed about the transportation needs of others. Especially those who are less fortunate.
So, while rynsa might not have brought these things up in the most appropriate context, I do think they need to be looked at.
Bicycling should not be the two-wheeled version of tennis or golf. Yes, I know. Tennis has the Williams sisters and golf has Tiger Woods. But they’re still the preferred sports of the white and the well off.
Nor should cycling be viewed just as a competitive sport or a physical fitness activity. There’s more to it than that. Much more.
Case in point: Many years ago, I worked in a local bike shop. Very early in my employment there, the owner told me that there are people in this community who *have* to ride. Meaning that the bicycle is their only form of transportation.
They may have been homeless and traveling from city to city. They patronized our shop, and the owner made it clear that we employees were to treat them with respect.
Likewise, the people who’d racked up one to many DUIs and had their licenses revoked. We had a few of them shopping with us as well. Again, despite the fact that they’d made some major mistakes with alcohol, they were our customers and we were expected to be kind to them.
Likewise, the mentally ill. We had quite a number coming into our store. For some of them, bicycling was away of keeping the mental storms at bay. For others, well, it was a way of just getting outside and doing *something* positive.
Although this shop has been closed for more than a decade, I’d like to see its inclusive spirit spread throughout the cycling community.
Straw,
You make a good point. I stand by my opinion, but there are clearly better times to voice it. Perhaps I should have waited a month or so. In the spirit of the Thanksgiving season, therefore, I will be willing to delete my original comment if you feel it is necessary.
I think “Workinonmytan’s” retort speaks for itself.
rynsa
Ms. Retallick,
“Bicycling should not be the two-wheeled version of tennis or golf.”
You said it much better than I did. Thank you.
rynsa
PsiSquared,
I don’t feel that I was “attacking” Mr. Click (please review my first sentence). None the less, I will acknowledge that it was very much in bad form for me to redirect the conversation so soon after is unfortunate injuries. I do apologize for that.
Next time, I’ll wait until he heals to remind folks of his impact on the alt transportation community. All in good time.
rynsa
This philosophical line lays too much on cycling. Jim Click’s stance on light rail is not aimed at keeping cycling exclusive. The snobbery implication is a shotgun blast at the general cycling population. Golf, tennis? Don’t forget skiing and dressage.
Cycling’s unique misfortune(?) is that is can serve many purposes. And maybe along with that is the expectation that cyclers are majorly responsible for alternative transportation’s future. No way!
I like to think that many cycling advocates recreate, commute and do errands on a bike and are convinced that cycling is the most efficient and economical form of alternative transportation. Why should they lend overt support to forms of any transportation that they don’t believe in or are detrimental to their interest.
The BAC is not a country club. If someone thinks that is the place to advocate for light rail or bus or car, then they should join. There are frequent and current vacancies.
The effects of monied influence is a cultural problem. I am so uncomfortable with associating that with cycling.
zz,
“The effects of monied influence is a cultural problem. I am so uncomfortable with associating that with cycling.”
I’m uncomfortable with NOT making that association. Why should cyclists get a pass? No one lives in a vacuum.
rynsa
Rib injuries make you cry..he’ll recover fast, hopefully.
I was recently in a <a href=”http://www.accidentinjurylawyer.com/consumerguide/bicycle-accidents.html”>bicycle accident</a> but I survived. I’m sure he will too.