The cost of a distracted driver
The letter from the distracted driver who caused Ian Beard's paralysis sits unopened.
He is not yet ready to read the apology, explanation or excuses it may contain.
His focus is on relearning how to walk and getting out of the hospital that has been his home since he was thrown from his bicycle in Attadale in July.
The career firefighter, 44, fractured three vertebrae, damaged his spinal cord and broke ribs in the crash.
He is among the increasing number of cyclists being treated in Royal Perth Hospital's trauma unit after being hit by vehicles.
Mr Beard has urged drivers to ignore distractions, be patient and be more considerate of cyclists, not passing them too closely.
But the father of two also believes cyclists could be considerate by riding single file during peak hour or on narrow roads despite being legally able to ride two abreast.
Mr Beard was doing his daily training ride last year when he saw a Toyota Camry stopped at the exit of Point Walter Reserve.
He thought the driver was waiting for him to pass and did not brake as he came down the hill about 50km/h.
"It wasn't until the last second he actually pulled out and I had nowhere to go," Mr Beard said. "I cleaned up his right-hand front wheel, flew over the bonnet and smacked my head on the road."
His helmet split in half and he suffered a compressed eye socket and facial injuries.
The spinal cord injury caused the loss of all movement and feeling from the shoulders down.
Before that terrible day, Mr Beard had not felt unsafe riding on roads although, like many cyclists, he had been abused by impatient motorists.
"It's been six months and I'm still dependent on people to do pretty much everything for me," he said. "Going from being an outdoors active guy to doing nothing except look out the window and a bit of rehab every day is pretty tough."
The 73-year-old driver pleaded guilty to dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, was fined $5000 and disqualified from driving for two years. Mr Beard said the man was remorseful but he was "a little angry" about the penalty the magistrate imposed when a jail term was an option.
Mr Beard's goal is to return to work this year.
