We Miss You Tom!

Tom opened our eyes and warmed our hearts. News of his passing was heartbreaking. We miss you Tom.

Here is the story from the Spokesman Review:

CdA wheelchair access advocate dies in crash

Thomas McTevia
(Full-size photo)

A Coeur d’Alene man who recovered from a severe spinal cord injury to lead an active life and advocate for those with physical challenges was killed Sunday when his all-terrain vehicle went over a cliff above Lake Pend Oreille.

Thomas W. McTevia, 42, died along with a friend, Tina A. Hoisington, 45, of Lewiston. Both were in the Polaris ATV when it plunged down a 500-foot embankment at Bernard Overlook just east of Farragut State Park, the Idaho State Police said.

McTevia, who was paralyzed in 2004 and used a wheelchair, represented the physically challenged community on the Coeur d’Alene Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee. He was a catalyst for the city to smooth out a portion of the Tubbs Hill trail on Lake Coeur d’Alene to make it accessible to wheelchair users.

“He wheeled into our office some years ago and asked why we didn’t have an accessible trail on Tubbs Hill,” said Doug Eastwood, the city’s former parks director.

“He got to see it finished. He got to use it,” Eastwood said. “He will be sorely missed. When I heard the news it was like somebody hit me in the chest with a baseball bat.”

Advisory committee members and city officials are discussing a tribute to McTevia, a Navy veteran and former Orofino police officer, as part of an upcoming ribbon-cutting for the rebuilt Tubbs trail.

“We’re trying to figure out how best to honor him,” said Chris Bosley, chairman of the committee and a project manager at Welch Comer Engineers.

McTevia was involved in a four-wheeler accident in April 2004, suffering a spinal cord injury that left him without the use of his legs and with limited use of his arms and hands.

Despite the injury that ended his law enforcement career, McTevia pushed to lead an independent life full of adventure and outdoor activity, from kayaking and photography to hunting and skydiving.

McTevia also was a passionate hand-cycler, operating a bike with his hands.

“He would pedal or hand-crank this thing for many miles,” Bosley said. “I saw him out on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes one day and he was putting in like a 20- or 30-mile ride, and then heading back to go ride his ATV and go see the sun set. He was an amazing guy.”

Becky Mumford, the records supervisor at the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, became friends with McTevia through his volunteer work with the police.

“He was a wonderful voice for those of the wheelchair-bound community and spoke at many City Council meetings,” Mumford said.

McTevia was “more active than most able-bodied people I know,” she added.

“His love for adventure and the outdoors was incredible. … He and his son even took our son camping with them. He was someone you could trust with life’s most precious treasure, your child.”

In a profile in Live Well CdA magazine in February, McTevia said, “You can’t live life in fear of what might happen. You have to get out and enjoy the gift you’ve been given.”

McTevia grew up in Orofino and joined the Navy after graduating from high school. He spent four years in the Navy Seabees. In addition to the Orofino Police Department, he had worked part time with the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office.

He moved to Coeur d’Alene in 2006, and in 2009 he participated in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Spokane.

McTevia’s son, who graduated from high school last year, lives in California.

Earth Day Celebration This Saturday

Come to Earth Day this Saturday (noon to 3pm) at the CDA Library and visit us at the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee booth. We will be collecting valuable input from you, the public, as we update the Trails and Bikeways Master Plan. It looks like it will be a great day to walk or ride your bike there.

Dust Off That Bike!

There's a new Challenge this year at PeopleForBikes. From May to September, we're encouraging Americans to log their miles in the National Bike Challenge. Create a team with your friends, neighbors or coworkers and compete with others across the country. The Challenge begins May 1. Start warming up this weekend at NationalBikeChallenge.org!

CPD offers tips for safe jogging

It’s springtime in North Idaho and many of our residents are turning to outdoor activities such as running. The City of Coeur d’Alene offers a tremendous number of options for outdoor activities, it’s one of the reasons we love to live here. The rules for running safely are common sense, so in the interest of safety, be sure not to leave your common sense at home.

A bicycle is considered a vehicle, so it is subject to the same laws as cars and trucks. Cyclists ride with traffic. You are not a vehicle. You are a runner, but your body and the vehicles around you follow the rules of physics which puts you in a highly vulnerable position if you're running near cars, trucks, and bicycles which have mass and momentum which is defined as mass in motion, or in your case, the potential for serious injury.

The best way to prevent an untimely physics lesson with one of these vehicles is to be able to see and be seen by them. This means running on the side of the road facing into traffic. If you and a car are both approaching an intersection, stop and let the car go first. (News flash: They're faster than you and although the laws of physics apply to both of you, the vehicle with its larger mass and velocity will always win against soft tissue.)

Here are some common sense rules for running on our roads and trails:
• Run against traffic if running on the road. If running on the sidewalk or multi-use trails, travel on the right and pass on the left.
• Stop at stop signs and ensure oncoming traffic yields to you before proceeding across a road.
• Don’t assume cars will stop if you are entering a cross walk.
• Don’t run down the middle of the road or trail.
• Never run more than two abreast if you are running in a group. Don’t be a road or trail hog.
• If you are running an out-and-back route, don’t just make a sudden u-turn at your turn around point. Stop, step to the right to allow oncoming traffic the opportunity to pass. Ensure the road or trail is clear of oncoming traffic - runners, cyclists, in-line skaters, etc. - then make your turn. Making a sudden u-turn without looking over your shoulder is a good way to get hit and then we are back at basic physics again.
• Alert pedestrians when you are passing them – don’t assume they are aware of their surroundings. A simple “on your left” warning will suffice.
• If you run at night, make yourself visible. Wear light-colored or reflective clothing.
• Respect private property along your route.
• Don’t litter. If you can’t find a trash can, carry your trash home.

 These simple rules will make your exercise enjoyable and safe!