Comments about ‘5 cyclists injured in canyon crash’

I enjoy riding my bike, but this is the very reason I stick to quiet back roads. I'm very sorry to hear about this accident. I hope everyone recovers ok.

I know the race is for a good cause but this was poorly planned. I live in the area and I think it's safe to say very few people even knew that the race was going on until you were stuck in traffic. There was a lot of frustration on the motorists end. Upon looking at the Highway Patrol directing traffic, they looked clueless. I don't think the race people coordinated with the local governments either because there were several road projects going on at the same time. I think in general cyclist are portrayed as everyone else needs to conform to them, but lets try to live together and coordinate. Lessons learned.

Heads should roll for the poor planning & lack of safety escorts for the bikers.

That is a dangerous road already. It would have made sense to close off the road to car traffic for the day....600 riders coming down that canyon in one day. An accident was bound to happen. Also, there were signs indicating a race on the Sundance side, but I didn't see any on the AF side of the canyon. I understand that UDOT was aware of the race but chose not to close the road. Bet the road will be closed off next year.

People in Utah should drive with a little more caution. Caution never hurts.

Bike 'races' do provide escorts for cyclists with in the racing pack. A leading car and also a fallowing car are provided. Once a cyclist is not able to ride with the leading pack and falls behind the fallow car they are no longer racing. They are then on their own and out for a personal ride.

This article does not give all the facts. So it is interesting to see how people jump to conclusions. The story does not state if the riders where between the escorting cars or not. It also does not make clear where the SUV’s came from and what roll they played in the accident. .

I second, They should just close the road down.

They closed it down a few hours later for the Tour of Utah . . . should have done the same here.

American Fork Canyon was supposed to be closed down. When I registered for the race, the promo materials said it would be closed. When I asked the race organizers about it at check-in last night, they told me that the UHP said they were not concerned about that road, because "there isn't enough traffic to worry about it at that time of day." Seriously?! Early Saturday morning in August!? Hundreds of people go up there just to climb Timp for crying out loud. The UHP shares a heavy portion of the blame here. I don't know the riders, but I came on the scene very soon after the crash. The SUV was going 40 mph down the canyon and just stopped. The riders were riding on the middle to RH side of the road (like we are supposed to) and could not stop before crashing.

My thoughts and prayers go out to those involved in the crash, including the driver of the SUV. I can't imagine what it must feel like to be the driver of that vehicle. I hope all are well, and that all forgive.

I know 2 of the injured. The critically injured is just out of surgery. It looks like he might survive. I agree that the road should have been closed. This is such an unfortunate accident and blame should not be the focus.

Seeing how narrow the road is from the news article photo, more careful attention should have been given to rider safety!

Bottom line is that the cyclists were following too close and/or going faster than they should have. There is no way they would have hit the car if they were riding in a safe manner. When I drive my car I have a responsibility to ensure I don't hit the car in front, no matter what. Cyclists have the same duty to not hit other vehicles or other objects.

Both on bikes and cars/SUV's etc.......they just don't know how to drive!!!!

First, it is very tragic and I hope those who are hurt are alright.

Second, so far no one knows for sure on the boards what happened. I understood that the 1000 Warrior race was going to have a "rolling closure." But even if that is the case, as I saw today on the Tour, cars still disobeyed the officers and tucked in between packs of riders, and then caused greater problems as team cars where trying to leapfrog to their riders.

Remember that the 1000 warriors was a race, and not just a ride. If, and that is if, these riders were near or in the rolling closure they probably assumed the car was an authorized race car, and thus didn't take the precaution necessary.

Also, we don't know how the SUV got there, could be disobeying an officer to stop, could have turned in off a side parking lot without knowing it was closed, and they needed to wait.

Hold off burning the race organizers and officers also, until we know. They can't block every side road and pull out when the number is that high. More facts are needed.

As I was descending down the road near Timp Cave this morning, a white car (coming the opposite direction) partially turned left in front of me on my bike as they were attempting to get "that parking spot." I hit my brakes, skidded and fish tailed before they finally realized their mistake. Had they kept coming, they would have needed a new hood and windshield and I would have needed surgery myself.

It's not like they hadn't seen 200+ other cyclists coming down before me as they went up the canyon.

I drove scouts up to a trail head for an overnighter yesterday and I did not see any signs warning of the race today. Granted, I was driving up only to the Tibble Fork cutoff. I followed a vehicle down the canyon part way who was only going 20 MPH, he kept waving me by, but there is no way I will ever pass a vehicle traveling in the same direction while going down AF Canyon.

This canyon is so narrow that at some places two large vehicles cannot comfortably pass each other. Ironically, one of the leaders and I were talking about the size of the road in the canyon and sharing it with bicyclist, runners and those who just park on the side of the canyon, and how hard it is to drive if they all come together at once.

Also, this race and the Pro Race were poorly organized with the surrounding cities, our city had at least one road closing construction job going on in the middle of the race course. I don't know what the racers did, but I had to take a different route out of town.

This was a bike race--they are supposed to go fast. if it was just a casual ride, you would have a point. That's why the canyon should have been closed.

Kudos to the Lone Peak Fire District for their quick response. You should know that the majority of that fire department are volunteers and do a wonderful job! Thank you Chief Carlisle and team!

Why was the race on a Saturday? It seems to me if the race was on a weekday there would have been less congestion. It's too much to ask to close the canyon on a Saturday. Also, there were football/soccer games all over the place and parents could not get to their games because of the race and road closures. I don't care if it is a race, if the cyclist are going to share the road w/ cars, they should obey the rules with the vehicles. Thanks to the local police/fire district for their service. UHP could learn a thing or two from you on this one.

the bicyclists...most joggers and bicyclists in the AF area somehow think they own the enitre road and cars need to watch out for them. Many many times they have been sprawled out across an entire lane which has almost caused a wreck when cars end up swerving all the way around into the oncoming lane. I see this almost once a week. The only time bikes or joggers need to be in the middle of a lane is when they are crossing the street and should hurry their little tales as fast as possible. A 2 ton vehicle will always win the match against a pedestian. People please use your BRAINS if you have any!!!