Habitat Bicycle Challenge Cancels Cross-Country Rides Saying They Are Too Dangerous
The Habitat Bicycle Challenge has decided to cancle their cross-country rides that were very successful fund-raisers for Habitat for Humanity Worldwide. The Habitat Bicycle Challenge board met with representatives for Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven, CT. They decided to end the bike trips.
In 2005, Rachel Speight was fatally hit by a car while biking in Western Kentucky. In 2006, Alexander Capelluto was fatally hit by a 10-wheel truck in West Haven during training for the cross-country trip. This past summer Dan Lewis was hit by a car and placed into a coma for several months while biking in Kansas. Lewis is now out of intensive care.
“Despite our best efforts, bicycling cross-country is a dangerous undertaking and accidents happen,” the HBC board said in a statement after the meeting. “The HBC family has been deeply affected by recent accidents leading up to and on our trips.”
The HBC added, “We can no longer endorse and organize the trip in its current form for these riders. The Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven board of directors, the Habitat staff and the ride’s student organizers have concluded that the benefits of this bicycle ride are not worth the inherent risks that accompany placing 90 cyclists on American roads.”
The cross-country trip was started in 1994 by Anthony Brydon and seven friends who biked across America. They raised funds to build a home for a New Haven, CT family. The annual cross-country bike trip had become the single largest fundraiser for a Habitat for Humanity affiliate in the U.S.A.. Approximately $2.4 million had been raised through the event. The Habitat Bicycle Challenge is focusing on creating a new event.
Source: New Haven Register
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