“We cyclists care for each other”

RG LETTERS IN THE EDITOR’S MAILBAG: last Thursday’s paper

FREDERICK W. SCALISE
Elmira

‘We cyclists care for each other’

On Oct. 1, I was riding my bicycle on Oakway Road in the bicycle lane and I started to signal my intention to move left into the road when my bicycle slipped and I was thrown onto the pavement.

My body landed first, and then my head. I was wearing my helmet and it stayed on, but I got a deep cut on my forehead above my left eyebrow.

I had noticed another cyclist riding behind me, a man in his 20s probably, and he helped me get to the curb. He took his shirt off and gave it to me so I could press it against my head to stop the heavy bleeding until the paramedics arrived. He had called 911 and after the paramedics took care of me, he stayed with my bicycle and waited for a friend to pick it up.

I kept thanking him but was so worried about my head injury that I forgot to ask his name. He kept saying, “Do not worry, we cyclists care for each other.” So I want to thank the anonymous Good Samaritan cyclist, my friends who took me to emergency care, the emergency personnel and the paramedics. My experience ended with 14 stitches and a better sense of community.