Sometimes, bad events can bring out the best in people. Al Bastidas has been blessed with a wonderful network of family and friends who have supported him in his recovery from injuries that nearly took his life.
On a September morning in 2002, Bastidas was on his way to the Austin Tri-Cyclist Saturday morning ride. When he was not more than a couple of blocks from his house, an impatient driver in an automobile did not exercise due care and caution for others on the road.
The driver turned left from the oncoming lane and collided with Bastidas, who was flung into the air 10 feet from the collision after his head struck the vehicle. His head swelled to twice its normal size, and he needed immediate brain surgery. Doctors gave him a 50 percent chance of survival while he was in a coma for two days. His sisters and mother immediately flew in from Florida to be by his side at what they thought was the end of Bastidas.
But Bastidas survived after 11 days in intensive care, 30 days in hospital care and more than three years in rehab. His fitness from triathlon training played a strong role in his recovery from such a horrific accident.
"I don't think my physical fitness was the only thing that saved my life and helped me with my recovery," Bastidas said. "I believe feeling love from family, friends and the Austin community had a lot to do with it. More than 100 people visited me at the hospital; some provided my family with hope and spiritual support, while others contributed financially. That was a big reason to live; I wanted to say thank you to everyone who worried about me and helped my family cope during such a challenging time."
Although he survived against dismal odds, Bastidas' road to recovery has been long and is still not complete. The injuries to his head left him without several of the basic functions that people take for granted. He underwent intensive therapy to regain his ability to speak, balance, remember things that happen and even to feed himself again.
"As bad as it sounds, this experience allowed me to realize what really matters in life and to discover my purpose," he said. For Bastidas, a turning point came when he learned of the death of Gay Simmons-Posey in April 2006. A hit-and-run driver killed her along Loop 360 while she was training for the MS150. Her death motivated Bastidas to do something to prevent this from happening to anyone else. He felt the need to reach the public with this message in whatever way he could. This unfortunate tragedy gave birth to Please BE KIND to Cyclists (PBKtC), a non-profit organization committed to raising awareness and increasing the harmony and tolerance between drivers and cyclists.
Bastidas began by hand-making signs and placing them around town, even placing a banner on the back of his van and driving around so people could read his message: "Please BE KIND to Cyclists." Though his methods have changed, his passion and devotion have not. Bastidas is determined to take this organization to the next level. With the help of his wife, volunteers and people who care, PBKtC is working on a strategic plan to shape the next three years. The organization will focus on reaching communities outside of Austin and will tackle issues that directly affect the lives of people who use the roads daily: drivers and cyclists. PBKtC will advocate for educational material about cyclists to be included in defensive driving classes. They will continue to grow their presence within the social media, develop new materials to educate drivers, approach all media channels to get them on board and develop and design a billboard campaign.
Momentum and motivation are also at a high for PBKtC right now. Next spring, Jack and Adam's Bicycle Shop has announced that it will be putting together the largest fundraiser yet for PBKtC: The first annual Round Rock Express Ride at the Dell Diamond will be held on April 10, 2011, with 100 percent of the profits benefiting PBKtC. Also, Tom Stacy, a well-known leader in the Austin real estate market, has donated office space for the organization that is located within the executive suites at the Omni Hotel Downtown. This is a huge step for PBKtC, and it will be key for continued growth. Volunteers are working hard to capitalize on these opportunities and meet the objectives of PBKtC for the sole purpose of saving lives. "We are privileged to have such talented and passionate individuals who are willing to take part in a much-needed social change within our community," Bastidas said.
What's next for PBKtC? Our mission is simple: Get drivers to be more aware of cyclists. However, in order to succeed, we must unify our efforts. Creating social change is a huge undertaking that visionaries like Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi attempted. They were successful, but they didn't do it alone. It was the collaboration and efforts of the people who cared and shared the same passion that made it happen.
PBKtC believes that every child, Austinite and citizen in our country should have the right to ride his/her bicycle without fear of getting hurt or killed. The people we see on bicycles every day are not objects: They are someone's husbands, wives, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts and neighbors. They are our doctors, our firefighters, our community leaders and your children's teachers. PBKtC is an organization for everyone, whether you are directly or indirectly connected to cycling. Why not join in the effort with Bastidas, his wife, Pat, and a team of volunteers who are working so diligently to save lives and spread safety awareness?
PBKtC is actively looking for talented volunteers to lead various projects such as events, community partnerships, fundraising, education and promotion. You also can donate directly on the PBKtC website or purchase bumper stickers and T-shirts to show your support for this great cause. Visit our website at www.bekindtocyclists.org to learn more, or contact us at al@pleasebekindtocyclists.com.
