MOCKSVILLE
The recumbent tricycle that Albert Arnott rode across the country gave him the mobility that his legs could no longer provide.
On Saturday, Arnott, 59, was struck from behind while riding that bike on U.S. 601, about three miles north of Mocksville. He died at the scene, Sgt. Eric Hoffman of the N.C. Highway Patrol said yesterday.
Arnott had already ridden from Los Angeles to New York and was on his way back to his home in Phoenix, Ariz.
Twenty years ago, Arnott was injured while working as a landscaper in Pennsylvania, according to an article in The Times Leader, a newspaper in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Arnott was in a full-body cast for two years and used a wheelchair to get around, according to the article.
But he could still ride his tricycle, which sat low to the ground and provided him with stability.
Recumbent bikes allow riders to sit in a reclined position with the pedals out in front of them.
Jeffrey Miller, the president of the Alliance for Walking and Biking, in Washington, said people choose recumbent bikes for comfort.
"Some ride them for better viewing. You're in a more inclined position to see the world rather than having to crane your neck," said Miller, whose organization is a coalition of state walking and bicycling advocacy groups.
Last year, Bruce Hermann was seriously injured when he was struck by a car while riding his recumbent bike on Country Club Road.
Hermann owns a shop, Neighborhood Transportation, that specializes in recumbent bikes.
He said that, contrary to what some people might think, recumbent tricycles are often more visible to drivers than other styles of bicycles.
"To a motorist, they look really wide. When a car approaches from the rear, they usually give you a lot more room, whereas on a regular bike, they think that you are as wide as the tire," Hermann said.
The tricycles' unusual look also grabs the attention of motorists, he said.
But that was not the case for Arnott.
The man driving the truck, Justin Mark Keaton, 30, of Mocksville, told a trooper with the N.C. State Highway Patrol that he did not see Arnott.
No charges have yet been filed, Hoffman said.
Arnott embarked on the cross-country trip from Los Angeles to New York last year, as part of a campaign for congressional term limits, according to The Times Leader article.
Arnott is the second cyclist to be killed in the area in the past nine days.
On July 23, Donald Sunday died when he was hit from behind while riding a traditional bicycle on Trinity Church Road in King.
Miller said it is not the responsibility of cyclists to wear bright colors or sport flags on their bikes to make themselves stand out during the daytime.
"I think a lot of us make sure we are seen, but it is absolutely not the fault of a bicyclist what colors they're wearing or whether they're wearing a flag or wearing a helmet. Those are personal decisions," he said.
lo'donnell@wsjournal.com
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