Tour De Palm Springs Stresses Biker Safety & More

PALM SPRINGS – Long-time cyclist Ben Travis rides up and down Palm Springs roads. He’s getting ready for the Tour de Palm Springs. He’s had his fair share of accidents though, which is why safety is at the top of his list.

“I got hit by a car. A guy went through an intersection and basically t-boned me. So, that hurt. I mainly messed up my bike, hurt my ankle a bit but it was…it could’ve been a lot worse,” says Travis.

Riding in the Tour de Palm Springs is different though, since motorists are aware of the big event. His biggest concern is not the cars, but the other riders.

“You got beginning riders to professional riders and the way the course is set up and the different rides interchange so you have slow riders and faster riders and everybody is at a different speed so you really got to watch out and pay attention of riders swerving in front of you because that’s the biggest danger out there,” Travis says.

More than 9,000 riders are expected to show up the day of the tour, including Monique Couacaud. It’s her first time participating in the Tour de Palm Springs.

“My husband was going to do it and I just joined a triathlon team so I’ve never been a bicyclist, but I’m learning,” Couacaud.

Scott McKelvey with Palm Springs Cyclery says the most important thing to do when riding, is to pay attention and use common sense.

“A lot of times you get out there and it’s exciting and there is so much going on that it’s really easy to get caught up in it and start talking with someone and not really paying attention. The roads do have cracks and grooves and you should be looking at the road surfaces as well,” McKelvey says.