Bicyclist struck by car

After four months in the hospital following an accident where she was struck by a car, Marsha Taylor is looking forward to getting back to riding.

The 37 year old McDonalds manager says she had put at least 3,500 miles on her bike in the previous year alone. “In the spring I rode in the Governors Bicycle Tour, which goes across the state. And in the fall I rode in a tour across the United States.” Taylor said, “If I could, I'd be out there right now.”

But Taylor can't ride her bicycle right now because she is still on crutches, after an accident that could have taken her life.

Taylor had just returned from the U.S. Tour and had taken her bike out for a short ride. She had planned to be out for about an hour when she was struck from behind by a car as she neared the intersection of 72^nd Street and Southland Boulevard. She was sent flying off of her bike to the ground and remembers nothing after the initial impact until she awoke in the hospital.

The diagnosis was a laundry list of injuries. She had broken her neck, six ribs, her pelvis, her arm and sustained a mild concussion as well. She was initially scheduled to finish her rehabilitation in about two months, but her recovery wasn't going as planned and further testing revealed numerous internal injuries which prolonged her rehabilitation for months. Her doctors were initially concerned because of the extent and number of her injuries. One of them had even told her it was a miracle that she hadn't been paralyzed. She still has rehabilitation sessions three times a week, but is on her way to recovery.

When asked if her attitude about cycling has changed her response was a firm no. When speaking of what kind of precautions that a bicyclist should take she said, “Well, the main thing is protective clothing, especially the helmet. I never ride unless I have my helmet. It probably saved my life.”