In 2002, his commute was severely interrupted by a Ford Explorer at Lake Lansing and Okemos Road.
“I was on the bike path. I had the right-of-way,” Unsworth said.
Despite following road laws, Unsworth was hit by the car.
“I blacked out before impact,” he said. “My body was one big bruise.”
To promote bicycle safety and prevent accidents like his own, Unsworth and Tim Potter of the MSU Bikes Advisory Committee taught a bicycle commuting class in the MSU Recycling Education Center Wednesday to kick off National Bike Month.
Potter and Unsworth taught students and faculty about bicycle commuting and the amenities the university has for bikers on campus.
“Ride in the road with traffic, especially where there are bike lanes,” Potter said.
He said bicycling on the sidewalk instead of the road increases risk of injury or fatality. Riding in the road increases rider visibility and safety.
“If you’re going to be on a bike, ride where it makes sense,” Potter said.
In a previous State News article , MSU police said there were 392 accidents in the area involving bicycles and motor vehicles between 1993 and 2011. More than 85 percent of the accidents occurred because a biker was riding through a crosswalk.
Potter said cyclists should have rear reflectors on their bikes and wear reflective, colorful gear to increase visibility.
“You want to be conspicuous all the time,” Potter said.
Potter said he even has a small air horn on his bike to alert pedestrians who do not hear his bike bell.
Potter said MSU has two bicycle garages on campus, in the Trowbridge and Grand River parking garages. A yearly pass is $50 for accessibility to both garages.
Lori Imboden, a research associate at MSU, said she appreciated learning about these places to secure her bike.
“I got a newer bike last year, and I’m a little emotionally attached to it,” Imboden said.
The next big Bike Month events in the area will be Wednesday, May 21. Bicycle Advocacy Day starts at 8 a.m. at the Capitol building, and the Greater Lansing Ride of Silence begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Wells Hall Courtyard.
MSU Bikes and MSU Sustainability are sponsoring classes, bicycle repair seminars, and leisurely bike outings throughout the month.
