SAN ANTONIO — When Samantha Flores and her boyfriend sat down for some ramen at Charity Bar in San Antonio, it had a bittersweet taste to it. Obviously not literally, but metaphorically because it's a reminder of the philanthropy she could have done. 

“It’s like this wistful far away feeling. For me, so much time has been focused on myself,” Flores said. “And I think about all of things I could have done for community and all of the charities I could’ve contributed to.” 

Entering the restaurant, she was greeted by all of the employees, including the owner. It was like she was their number one customer. 

“Awe, my homies,” Flores said after hugging an old co-worker. 

The opportunity to give back to the East Side of San Antonio through this bar was taken away from her in 2018. 

“The night before, somebody drove behind me on my bike and hit me and left me to die and someone else drove over me after that,” Flores said. “I got lucky to live and I should just be grateful, but I think more about how much more I could be enjoying my life.” 

Flores said that she felt all of the love and support on her road to recovery, but she feels a sense of guilt because she wasn’t able to say thank you to one of her cycling friends, Tito Bradshaw, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2019.

“I didn’t have a son and a partner in life like the way Tito did. I didn’t have people waiting for me on the other side,” Flores said. 

As of June 8 2021, there have been eight cycling fatalities in San Antonio in the last three years and Flores said that is just eight too many deaths. 

“The lack of infrastructure for cyclists aren’t just people that are living in poverty. We are not a subhuman species. We are taxpayers. We are a part of the community. We are doctors and small business owners and bar managers,” Flores said. 

After this near death experience, Flores had many suggestions for the city that she believes would protect all cyclists.

“I feel that having lit bike lanes that are a part of the sidewalk, because part of why I had my accident is because there wasn’t a usable sidewalk,” Flores said. 

It’s been almost three years since Flores’ accident and she still favors her right leg and attends physical therapy, but she finds the strength to get back on her bike and ride with a purpose.

“Finally address the issues that are not typical. People are dying. it’s not to be taken lightly anymore. Enough people have died,” Flores said.