Patrick McAlister

“And if you see me out there, please don’t hit me with your car.”

It feels like a punch in the gut every time I read those words, the last line my cousin Neil Kelty wrote on his blog.

On April 24, Neil, an avid cyclist who wrote about his experiences online, was hit and killed by a school bus on his commute to work in Indianapolis. With more and more cyclists on our roads, my family’s pain is becoming all too familiar.

As we head into the 2015 legislative session, I challenge Hoosier lawmakers to act to ensure our laws are written to protect everyone on road.

When it came to bike safety, Neil was meticulous. He purchased the right equipment, planned his route well and practiced it on a Saturday. Neil quickly was becoming a part of our city’s vibrant cycling community, even joining IndyCOG, a local cycling advocacy organization. Neil was a model cyclist, doing everything he could to be safe and enjoy his newfound hobby. Yet he wasn’t fully protected from the motorists around him.

Impaired driving — whether it is caused by alcohol, drugs, texting or a host of other distractions — poses a threat to everyone. This is especially true for those who are on our roads without the protection of a 2,000-pound vehicle.

A Vulnerable Road User law would outline new penalties for drivers who recklessly kill or injure a cyclist, pedestrian, farmer, motorcyclist or anyone else outside of a motorized vehicle in a roadway. Those penalties could include fines, suspension of a license and potentially jail time.

Local leaders across our state and in Indianapolis have rightfully touted the rapid expansion of walkable and bikeable communities, working hard to ensure miles of bike paths and bike lanes are added every year. The community investment is fantastic, but Hoosiers deserve updated laws to ensure all of these new cyclists and their families are protected.

At Neil’s funeral, a man approached me. He said he didn’t want to bother Neil’s mom, but wanted the family to know that he was with Neil when he died. He held his hand and prayed with him until the police and ambulance arrived. We found out later that this wonderful person was the nephew of a high school teacher both Neil and I revered, the teacher who taught us both to believe in civic engagement and the goodness of people.

That’s why, in Neil’s memory, I am calling on cyclists here and across our state to join the movement for increased protections for those who find themselves unprotected on our roads through no fault of their own.

No family should have to endure the loss we have endured. Fortunately, our state lawmakers have an opportunity to improve conditions on our road and hold accountable drivers who endanger the lives of cyclists like Neil.

McAlister is a resident of Indianapolis.