Annual charity bike ride slammed as dangerous after man taken to hospital in critical condition

The organisers of a popular Brisbane cycling event have come under fire after a man in his 40s fell off his bike and was taken to hospital in critical condition.

Riders have lodged complaints over the handling of a popular Brisbane cycling event after a man nearly lost his life on the weekend.

A 48-year-old Darling Downs man was rushed to Woolloongabba’s Princess Alexandra Hospital in critical condition after he fell off his bike while competing in the MS Brissie to the Bay bike ride about 6.30am Sunday.

The man remains in hospital in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit.

Safety concerns about the 32-year-old cycling event, designed to raise money for sufferers of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), have since been made by a team of experienced riders.

Regular participant, Amy Roche said this year’s event was “downright dangerous”.

“I’m surprised many people were not injured or killed,” she said.

“The danger was palpable.

“I’m a very experienced rider and I had several very close calls.”

The popular annual MS Brissie to the Bay bike ride started in 1990 and helps raise funds for people suffering from multiple sclerosis. Picture: Mark Cranitch

Ms Roche said the event was usually on smaller, safer roads with bike lanes.

“All the years I’ve done it there’s volunteers and police helping with traffic,” she said.

“There was very little support ... there were no police or people directing traffic.”

A spokeswoman from MS Queensland, the not-for-profit charity that organises the mass participation ride, defended the handling of this years event and said the safety and wellbeing of all riders was taken seriously.

“The MS Queensland team is very saddened by a serious incident involving one of our participants at Sunday morning’s event,” she said.

“We have been in contact with the participant’s family.

“They have our full support, and all our team’s thoughts are with them at this time.”

The spokeswoman said the event was planned with the support of the police and other authorities.

“Robust safety precautions and risk assessments are conducted by highly experienced traffic management specialists in consultation with these local authorities,” she said.

“Any changes made to the route are done only for safety reasons.”

Laura Peachey Burgess lives with Multiple Sclerosis and her father, Guy Burgess, was one of the thousands who rode in the 130km on Sunday for the Brissie to the Bay bike ride to support his daughter. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Ms Roche said she emailed the organisers outlining her concerns.

“I know your heart is in the right place (that we are there for MS and to help people), and I’m sad even to write this as you’re a non-profit but yesterday’s experience was terrible,” she said in the email.

The cyclist said she would boycott the event if serious changes were not made for future events.

“Honestly I only do this for my friend Wendy – she has MS and I’m going to tell (the event co-ordinators) unless they make changes, I will never do this ride again,” she said.

On Sunday, a Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said the man fell from his bicycle at high speed near the corner of Richmond Road and Waminda Street in Morningside.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said the cause of the crash was under investigation.

The MS Brissie to the Bay bike ride started in 1990 with participants able to enter the 10km, 25km, 50km, 100km or 130km events.

This year the riders started on Grey St, South Bank and finished at Musgrave Park on Cordelia St in South Brisbane.