Get Involved. And Keep Going.
On December 15, 2011, Megan Baab was tragically killed when an oncoming pickup truck crossed the center line and struck her head on. She was a freshman at Lees-McRae College in Tennessee and a member of its cycling team. Originally from Hurst, Texas, she rode with Bicycles Inc.
Her father, Chris, has become one of the forerunners in advocating for the cycling community. I met up with Chris recently at the Fort Worth Ride of Silence and asked him if he would be willing to share his story. An incredible man in his own right, Chris was generous enough to let me interview him. Part of the interview recently ran in the July issue of The Racing Post; below is the full interview and some pictures he shared as well.
On December 15, 2011, Megan Baab was tragically killed when an oncoming pickup truck crossed the center line and struck her head on. She was a freshman at Lees-McRae College in Tennessee and a member of its cycling team. Originally from Hurst, Texas, she rode with Bicycles Inc.
Her father, Chris, has become one of the forerunners in advocating for the cycling community. I met up with Chris recently at the Fort Worth Ride of Silence and asked him if he would be willing to share his story. An incredible man in his own right, Chris was generous enough to let me interview him. Part of the interview recently ran in the July issue of The Racing Post; below is the full interview and some pictures he shared as well.
Q: What are some specific actions
cyclists can take to advocate rider safety and be safer on the roads?
CB: The best that riders
can do to be safe on the road and to advocate safety is to obey the road laws.
Stop at stop signs, etc. Don't ride in the middle of the road. Be calm in
dealing with a driver that is upset. No matter what, the cyclist's always comes
out on the losing side due to the car will always be the deciding factor.
It's like this, is your life worth it? Also on our rides we have folks
remember the front part of the license and another to remember the last half.
Take a photo of the license. When you have this information make the call, be
very factual and try to not make it personal.
Wear bright colors,
ride in groups (I have always found that when we are in numbers the drivers
aren't as brave as when it's only one cyclist). Again follow the
rules of the road. Newer riders, keep them to the inside, shelter them. Again
ride in a group, there are safety in numbers. 
Q: What are some things that drivers can do?
CB: Stop texting and messing with your phone while driving. If
you have to, then pull over. This applies to cyclists also. In almost every hit, texting or the phone is
involved.
Q: Should there be a
law against texting?
CB: Yes, on both parties.
Again pull over. I do.
Q: What legislation
is in place/being passed/should be passed on the behalf of cyclist's?
CB: The 3 foot rule was
just passed (requires motorists to give bicyclists a 3-foot margin when passing them), but the Texas Department of Transportation needs to make drivers
aware of it. Mailers would help of new rules to all drivers. Putting the
information on the highway overhead signs would be an option as every driver
will read it. They do it for motorcycles, why not cyclist's??
Getting involved at
the state and city level. I will be attending the Bedford City council to ask
about bicycle lanes on Cummings and some other streets. Write your
congress person, Senator. Take a part in learning the rules of the road
yourself. As a cyclists this
is your responsibility.
Q: You have talked
about how cyclists are all part of a special community. What are some practical
ways people who are relatively new to cycling can join in this community,
besides simply riding their bikes?
CB: Attending and
speaking up at city council meetings, donate and be a working member of Bicycle
Texas. Get involved. So many of us get really involved with ourselves and our
goals that we miss the large picture of what a diverse community we are. When
you ride your bike your making a statement that you belong on the road also,
and you count. WE all count!!
But, we are losing
too many of us to cars. WE have to get their attention, again get involved.
Bicycle Texas is a start, research, find out where you can help. www.biketexas.org Look on the top tab
and its says join, and get involved. GET INVOLVED!!
Q: What is Bicycle
Texas and how can someone get involved?
www.biketexas.org Join, get involved. The
best a person can do is look up the the Texas State Bicycle laws. Transport.lamu.edu/bicycles/statlaw.aspex
is a very good list.
Follow the rules of
the road and be courteous to drivers and don't use hand gestures. We always
lose to a vehicle, and we have lost too many the past 5 years. It's sad in the
number we have lost due to drivers not paying attention.
CB: This is a fund setup
under the Candle in the Wind Foundation. As in Kid's Candle that were blown out before they could reach their potential.
www.meganbaab.org, this is the website
and it will take you to a Bike Reg site that will take the donations. The
scholarship fund is setup to provide female racers a way to get additional
funding to go to college. The prospective racer sends in her bio and a letter
on why she races and why she wants to go to college. The committee meets and
selects the female racer for the coming year. The first year we selected 4 to
help and made checks out to each girl.
Megan was very big on
getting a college education and racing, it's a way to help someone else race
and get an education and keep racing.
The jersey sales, The Oakely glass's, and the donations from her Commerative ride every Dec 15th is what funds the scholarship fund.
We have been very
lucky that so many people recognize that she was a great kid and want her
legacy to live on.
Q: What is your favorite memory of
Megan on a bike?
CB: That kid and I have
ridden so many miles, and times together it's hard to break it down to my most
favorite, I have two,
1. Was her determination in finishing her very first
rally ride, Tour De Italia in Italy, Texas. I made her a deal that if she
finished a 35 mile ride I would get her a road bike. She did 35 miles on a
30lbs Pacifica 5 speed at 9 years old. She did it!
2. The last ride we did
together when she was home for Thanksgiving, We rode at River Legacy mountain
bike trails. In the past she had never kept up with me on the trails, This time
it was like we were joined and we both flowed through the trails just liked we
were linked together in life. It was a very magical ride and we both commented
on just how in sync we were. We just didn't know it would be the last time we
rode together.
Q:
How have you and your family continued to carry her legacy with you?
CB: I guess each one of
us have taken our own path to deal with it. This is by far the hardest thing I
have very done. Whenever I throw a leg over the top tube and push down on a
crank she is there. When I pass an area or road where we have ridden, she is
there. Mine is riding, and
dealing with her loss is very good for me. Getting involved with the cycling
community and discussing safety is another.
Doing the BUCKET List
Rides is another. Rides that she and I discussed and she/we wanted to do, I do
them and will continue to do them.
Also what is very big
for me is helping others, which helps me deal with her loss. Getting involved with
the Wounded warrior 100 was a very special time and has helped me in so many
ways.
I guess that when you
lose a child, it never get's easier in handling the pain. The Pain is always
there, it's how you manage it. I'm very lucky and blessed with my wife Sammye
Baab and that she has helped me by being my rock through this all. One day at a time,
one step in life at a time. YOU have to keep going no matter what!
Q: What is your favorite memory of Megan, off of the bike?
CB: Her smile. It was
always on no matter what time and what day it was. Very few people saw her not
smiling, even in the most grueling race, she loved it! As in my life,
cycling was in her blood. She loved to feel the wind in her hair. But the most
honest thing to say about Megan is that she treated everybody the same and
always was very kind to all.
That's not saying
that she wasn't a HUGE practical joker, she was a mean shot with a water bottle
and Super cold water. She was very good at teasing and it was always done with
a smile and in a fun nature.
In closing I would
like to mention that I have been very lucky and very fortunate to have so many
people who have reached out to me and talked to me when I needed it the most.
This has been the most horrable and painful event in my life, but through it
all, GOOD things have come from it. As I said earlier you have to keep going
and keep getting better as a person. Be your best in all you do!
Besides if I didn't ,
then I would not be giving Megan Baab the respect she deserves from her
Dad.
Thank you,
Chris Baab
Author's note: Originally, this piece was going to be on the annual Ride of Silence, the now worldwide event that honors fallen cyclists. After interviewing Chris, the article sort of evolved into a general advocacy/biker safety one, although I would like to mention the ROS is yet another way cyclists can take a stand in the community and make a difference.
The ROS takes
place every May during National Bike Month. This year marked the 10th anniversary of the
great event. The single gathering that
began in Dallas, Texas, has since grown to 368 organized events, spanning all
50 states and spreading to 26 countries. Be looking next May for a ROS near you that you can join. Be heard. www.rideofsilence.org
Bicycles Inc. team members pose for a picture at the Ride of Silence
