State officials address bicycle laws, safety

By RACHEL TUELLER

rtueller@thespectrum.com

ST. GEORGE - Friday afternoon, one local man shared his story of surviving two vehicle-versus-bicycle accidents and state officials spoke to safety issues regarding bicycles and motorists sharing roadways. The issues arose after Donald Pymm, 65, died from injuries he received Thursday morning when he was struck by a pickup truck while riding his bicycle.

Defining vehicles

According to state officials, a bicycle by definition is a vehicle. It is not a motor vehicle, but it is defined in Utah Code as a vehicle.

Mark Panos serves as the deputy director for the Utah Highway Safety Office, which oversees federal highway safety funding. When asked in a phone interview Friday if bicycles are entitled to the same rights as other vehicles on the roadway, Marcos said they have the same rights, but they are also required to follow all traffic laws that apply to motor vehicles.

Theron Jeppson has served for the past 18 months as the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Coordinator with the Utah Department of Health. Jeppson cited Utah Code 41-6a-1102 and said that while Utah law does not define a bicycle as a motor vehicle, it does give bicyclists the same rights and responsibilities as a motor vehicle.

"The exception would be that they are required to ride to the right and that's only if they are traveling at less than the normal speed of traffic," he said.

Sharing the road

Officials answered the question posed in Friday's article in The Spectrum: Do bicyclists have entitlement to a full lane of travel on the roadway?

"While Utah law doesn't directly address that question, certainly bicyclists have a right to the roadways. And while Utah law specifies that a bicyclist should stay to the right-hand side of the lane if possible, there are certainly times a bicyclist must move left into the lane farther to avoid hazards," Panos said. "If there is a dedicated bike lane. But if there is not, then they certainly have the right to ride in the vehicle lane and it's suggested that bicyclists should ride to the right-hand side."

Motorists should recognize, however, that when there is not additional pavement to the right-hand side of the fog line - the solid white line on the right edge of the road - that situation forces bicyclists into the right-hand side of the vehicle lane. Officials recognize the situation makes it difficult for a motor vehicle to pass a bicycle in that condition and maintain the minimum three-foot clearance required by the law. The motorist must then either move over to the next lane to the left to pass the bicyclist or, in the case of a two-lane road, they should initiate a regular passing operation or maneuver just as they would for any motor vehicle, Panos said.

Jeppson responded that bicyclists do have entitlement to a full lane of traffic on the roadway when the conditions in 41-6a-1105 exist.

When asked if Utah law suggests that bicyclists travel on the far right-hand side of the road, how can they negotiate a left turn to cross traffic, Panos referenced Utah Code 41-6a-801 and 41-6a-1108 and responded that Utah law specifies two ways bicyclists can make a left turn.

"One of those is to follow the same rules as a motor vehicle, which is to get over to the left-hand side of the roadway," he said. "I suspect that places them at a greater risk. Or they can do it in a manner that's more reminiscent of how a pedestrian would do it."

Near misses

Aside from sick days and inclement weather, Santa Clara resident David Jeppson rides his road bike to work almost every day and has had a lot of near misses, but some have struck too close to home. In the spring of 2005, Jeppson rode along Dixie Downs, but where the bicycle lane disappears, he had to take some of the lane. A Dodge pickup went to pass him going about 50 mph and the passenger-side mirror of the vehicle brushed Jeppson's shoulder. "It didn't hurt, didn't knock me off my bike," Jeppson said.

When the driver parked, Jeppson chased him down and confronted him about the incident. The driver told Jeppson he didn't belong on the road and used expletives to drive the point home. "He told me that if I was in California, they would have just run me over and left me for dead," Jeppson said.

Two years prior, in August 2003, at around 6:30 a.m. as Jeppson rode in the vicinity of Snow Canyon Parkway, he was struck by a Dodge pickup pulling a trailer. "Basically he ran head-on into me," said Jeppson, who had his bicycle headlight on and taillights flashing at the time. The vehicle turned left onto the side street Jeppson was on and the driver, completely out of his lane, and ran over Jeppson.

"By the grace of God I'm alive, because I bounced off the left front of his truck, the rear wheels of his truck and the tandem wheels of his construction trailer just barely missed my head. This one was purely an accident. He just wasn't watching what he was doing. He was in a hurry and I think that's how most of them (accidents) take place."

A police report was filed, the man was cited and insurance paid Jeppson, but not much. "Money's nothing if you're dead," said Jeppson.

For Panos, the most important aspect of the issue is that motorists understand that bicyclists do have a right to use the highways. It is also important that bicyclists understand that by using the roadways, they must follow the same laws as motor vehicles.

"Unfortunately there are few enough bicycles on the road that motorists do not expect to see bicyclists," Panos said. "If there were one message I'd want to convey to any motor vehicle driver in this day and age, (it would be) we're going to see more bicyclists using the roadways and please be sure to search for them as you would any other motor vehicle while driving. That's what it boils down to. Motorists typically don't see bicyclists when they hit them."

Originally published October 8, 2005

DSC Scholarship to honor local sports icon

By RACHEL TUELLER

rtueller@thespectrum.com

ST. GEORGE - On Oct. 6, a bicycle-versus-vehicle accident claimed the life of 65-year-old Donald Pymm, a man who, for many local residents, was a local sports icon.

"When we lost Donnie Pymm we lost an icon of Southern Utah sports," said George Whitehead, director of institutional advancement at Dixie State College. "No matter where you went, whether it was a Little League game, city soccer matches or high school or college sports, Donnie Pymm would be present with a spiral notebook and odds. I think that's pretty cherished and that's the way he was and everyone loved him."

 After several articles and an editorial appeared in The Spectrum memorializing Pymm and his far-reaching friendships, Whitehead received many inquiries from local residents interested in further memorializing Pymm's name.

"Several community residents and the athletic department at the college talked to me about wanting to do something special for Donnie," Whitehead said.

Many ideas were discussed, but Ralph and Cheri Atkin, DSC alumni and old friends of Pymm, called Whitehead to tell him between themselves and their friends, they'd raised resources totaling $5,000 in Pymm's honor.

Whitehead said the goal now is to raise $20,000 for an endowed scholarship in Pymm's name, a scholarship that will continue forever.

"The $20,000 would generate interest annually," Whitehead said. "The interest is what's used for the scholarship."

The first priority will be awarded to an athlete from Dixie High School who attends DSC. The second priority would be any athlete from Washington County high schools who will attend DSC.

Donors have requested the scholarship be awarded as such, in honor of Pymm, who they say was the two schools' greatest fan.

"You would never see him in any other color besides blue and white of Dixie High or red and white of Dixie College," Whitehead, said noting that Dixie high school and college coaches were honored every yea

wearing their colors and hats.

"I'm overwhelmed at the kindness of this community and the depth of the friendships that Donnie Pymm had with all different ages," he said. "High school athletes of the last two or three years adored him as well as athletes from 35 years ago."

Originally published October 21, 2005

Residents gather to remember Donald Pymm

By JILL PRICHARD

jprichard@thespectrum.com

ST. GEORGE - "Dixie State College versus Pima on Saturday at 7 p.m.," were the last notes made in Donnie's wire notebook, a notebook filled with college football game start times and statistics.

Family, friends, former players from Dixie High School and coaches from Dixie State College gathered to pay tribute during the funeral for Donald Miles Pymm on Monday.

Pymm was involved in a fatal accident Thursday on 700 East in St. George. Pymm, who celebrated his 65th birthday the day before, was riding his bicycle when it was struck by a pickup truck.

"We know that Donnie is in a much better place," Terry Bell said.

Bell related stories about Pymm, which included her experiences with his sports knowledge.

"Anyone who knew Donnie knew he loved sports," Bell said. "He would always ask me who I thought would win. I could always choose one team because he gave me options to choose from."

A former neighbor of Pymm's, Keith Thomas, of Las Vegas, said he could always call to get game scores.

"We would talk standings and if Dixie State was going to have a good team this year," Thomas said.

Jared Beckstand, who played baseball for DHS from 1984-'87, shared memories of Pymm.

"My years at Dixie were enriched by Donnie's presence," Beckstand said. "I could think of no better person to cheer me on. I'll miss seeing him at the ball fields."

Dixie State College coaches and the school's athletic director also came to say their good-byes to their favorite fan.

"He's a icon at all of the games," Dexter Irvin, DSC athletic director said. "He always said, 'Are we going to win tonight?' and answer, 'Of course we're going to win tonight.'"

Pymm's childhood friend, Dale Larkin, shared how the St. George community was better for having Donnie around.

"No one has been a better leader in the community than Donnie Pymm," Larkin said. "He was an incredible young man. He touched our lives and because of that we are better people."