Why Breitz! to Sea Otter Classic 2025 Bike Fest

The League of American bicyclist reported on their National BikeSummit 2025 web page that "Preliminary estimates indicate 1,149 bicyclists were killed in 2023, the highest number ever recorded, continuing an alarming trend." To add to that, 7318 pedestrians died in traffic crashes also in 2023 - and those figures - all lives - don't account for the tens of thousand pedestrians and cyclists injured/severely injured in traffic crashes. 

Yes, transportation of any kind always comes with inherent risks, but considering that driver-on-driver crashes have decreased significantly since 1975, even taking into account the recent 2020-present bump, as shown above, crashes involving drivers on pedestrians and cyclists have increased to levels not seen since the 1970's - and we in the USA have, by far, the highest such crash and death rates in the industrialized world.

That fact and notoriety is, by any measure, unacceptable.

A significant part of the problem: drivers complain they can't see walkers, runners and cyclists on the road, and I've heard that complaint leveled loudly at me on the road - even while wearing a bright white cycling jersey. But now I get compliments for kitting up the way you see below in highly visible wear with "6 Feet, Thanks!" messaging on my back that communicates directly and respectfully with drivers - and drivers appreciate it with a thumbs up, friendly wave and/or "Hey, cool jersey!" shout out the window.

For fellow road athletes/enthusiasts, visibility is our first line of defense. As a lifelong cyclist, with more than a few crashes and near misses with drivers before I started wearing bright jerseys, that's exactly why I've created the Breitz! "Be bright, be seen!" brand.

My intention at Sea Otter Classic 2025 bike fest that runs today through Sunday (April 10-13):

• Engage riders about how kitting up in Breitz! wear can help drivers see them on the road
• Connect with cycling industry leaders about:
  • how partnering together to make roads safer for all can get more people on bikes and improve business for the industry as a whole
  • progress regarding a community, industry and business (not government) led safe roads for all effort I introduced at Sea Otter 2023 and will help implement in Hickory, NC, where I live, this summer
  • requesting industry sponsorship for our upcoming NC BikeWalk Transportation Summit in Hickory early this September. (As a point of reference, North Carolina was ranked 2154 of 2300 US cities in People for Bikes 2024 "Best Places to Bike" city ranking.)

Will be fun - with purpose!

More about progress soon.