String Of Bicycle Accidents Has OKC Cyclists On High Alert

A string of bike accidents over the past few weeks, some deadly, has metro cyclists on high alert. Now, the Oklahoma Bicycle Society is speaking out.

Sunday morning Juan Lopez was walking alongside his bike when he says a man hit him on purpose. Lopez remains in the hospital. He's one of many cyclist recently hit and nearly killed by a driver.

8/26/2013 Related Story: Bicyclist Injured In Hit-And-Run In SW OKC Speaks Out

"It just makes me sick," said Amy Downs, President of the Oklahoma Bicycle Society. "This is something that I love to do. I love to get on my bike, and you just don't feel safe when you hear these kinds of things on the news."

Amy has quite a story to tell. Becoming a cyclist has literally changed her life.

"I've lost 200 pounds and riding my bike helps me maintain that," Downs said.

Downs is not only an advocate for cycling in Oklahoma, but her organization wants not only members but drivers to adhere to the rules of the road. In many cases, Downs says following those rules can save lives.

"As a cyclist, I have to obey the stop signs. I have to obey rules just as I would if I was in a car," said Downs. "I think we have a lot of people who are just uneducated about how they should handle it when that cyclist is in front of them on the road."

"He came at me. He was going like 35 mph, and he just got me," Lopez said.

Lopez, the latest victim, thinks one man was intentionally trying to kill him. He was on his way to a skate park with a friend when a car swerved toward them twice and circled back again.

"I felt helpless," said Lopez. "Like I don't know why this guy would try to do this to me."

"And that's just what really concerns me," Downs said.

Downs says cyclists and drivers should share the road and be watchful of each other.

"I know I've been on the bike and I've had some near misses," Downs said.

The man who hit Juan Sunday morning is now in police custody.