Route Summary
Starting in Helotes on Hwy 16, this ride will take you on a loop that parallels Medina Lake. You can turn off the loop onto PR 37 to get closer to the lake and stop for food in Lakehills. Once back on the loop, you will ride through twisties and sweepers, eventually riding back to Hwy 16 which will bring you back to Helotes.
This route had fatal and incapacitating crashes between 2010 – 2023. In Texas, drivers are not assigned “at fault” in a crash, but law enforcement can assign ‘factors or conditions’ that contributed or may have contributed to a crash. Multiple ‘crash factors and conditions’ can be assigned to one, some, or all vehicles involved in a crash.
The following tables represent data extracted from the Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System (TxDOT’s CRIS).
| Safety (2010-2023) | |
|---|---|
| Crashes | |
| Fatalities | |
| Serious Injuries | |
| Top Weather Crash Condition | |
| Top Lighting Crash Condition | |
| Top Road Crash Condition | |
Crash Narrative Summary
The following list is a summary of the crash events and conditions that have been described by officers investigating crashes along this route. The investigating officer provides his/her opinion of how the crash happened and will emphasize or explain, as necessary, any pertinent facts that are not fully explained elsewhere on the crash report. This section is meant to supplement the above data tables by providing further insight and “clues” into what factors and conditions contributed or may have contributed to crashes along this route.
- 50% of the multi-vehicle crashes had the major factors that contributed to the crash attributed to the motorcyclist. Motorcyclists collided with vehicles at intersections and while traveling into the wrong lane of traffic.
- 63% of crashes occurred along curves. Look where you want to go, not where you don't want to end up! Target fixation can cause you to drift out of your lane.
- 80% of crashes were single vehicle crashes. Motorcyclists traveled at an unsafe speed along a curve, lost control, and left the roadway. Many riders came to land in bar ditches. As tempting as it is to crack the throttle wide open when there are no other vehicles around, riders need to maintain self-control. Failure to control speed is one of the main contributing factors in motorcycle-only crashes.
- Utilize counter-steering for a controlled turn. Press the handlebar in the direction of the turn and maintain slight pressure on that bar to smoothly navigate through the turn. In other words, press the right handgrip to go right; press the left handgrip to go left (MSF).
- 80% of motorcyclists had a valid motorcycle license. Not only does taking an approved motorcycle licensing course allow you to acquire M Class endorsement, it can also save you money on your insurance rates!
- 20% were not wearing a helmet. Without gear, you are at a greater risk of spending a long time in the hospital. Protect your brain, skull, and face by wearing a full face, DOT helmet. Motorcycle specific clothing is designed to work best. Don't try to save money by using non-motorcycle specific gear.