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Yahoo!Member Opinions:
By: lduke on 1/10/10
This article seems a little one sided, as it fails to mention that some cyclists fail to follow road rules as well.
This article seems a little one sided, as it fails to mention that some cyclists fail to follow road rules as well.
By: ConservativeReaction on 1/10/10
When was the last time anyone saw a bicyclist stop at a stop sign? They want us to treat them as equals yet they hardly obey the rules of the road. I won't even mention those tight outfits on 52-year-old overweight men.
When was the last time anyone saw a bicyclist stop at a stop sign? They want us to treat them as equals yet they hardly obey the rules of the road. I won't even mention those tight outfits on 52-year-old overweight men.
By: kthomson on 1/10/10
I don't mind the bicyclist wanting to get healthier, but ride on the greenway not down our county roads that have no shoulder!
I don't mind the bicyclist wanting to get healthier, but ride on the greenway not down our county roads that have no shoulder!
By: chickpea on 1/10/10
You are missing the point of the article...a cyclist was hit by a car that ran a red light. The person driving the car is at fault here, not the cyclist. By the way, bicycles are considered vehicles and have every right to be on the road. The cyclists I know obey the rules of the road and wear helmets. And yes, I have seen plenty of them stop at stop signs.
You are missing the point of the article...a cyclist was hit by a car that ran a red light. The person driving the car is at fault here, not the cyclist. By the way, bicycles are considered vehicles and have every right to be on the road. The cyclists I know obey the rules of the road and wear helmets. And yes, I have seen plenty of them stop at stop signs.
By: Cervelo1 on 1/10/10
Ok, for disclaimer purposes I am a cyclist and I ride with Andy Mitchell (the guy in mentioned in the article) regularly. To address kluke's comment, I've seen people do some pretty dumb things on bikes around town, however most of the people I've seen do these things are not what I would consider cyclists and there is no way to teach every random person that gets on a bike. If you can figure that one out I would be all for it because it gives anyone on a bike a bad name. As for stopping at a stop sign, I can assure you that I (and Andy) stop at signs, look both ways and stop at lights just like everyone else on the road. In fact, that's how Andy got hit. He was stopped at the light about to turn left onto Church St (about 100 yards from his subdivision) and he got hit by a driver that ran a red light. How can you possibly excuse this by saying he shouldn't be on the road? By the way, she wasn't even close to making the light. Last but not least I will address the greenway comment. The greenway is a great thing to have for walkers, joggers and people casually riding bikes enjoying the day. However, a lot of cyclists are moving at 20 MPH and being on the greenway with all the walkers, joggers and families is far more dangerous than being on the road. That would really be dangerous.
I have regualar routes that I have ridden (mostly with Andy) for years and the vast majority of the time motorists give me plenty of room and and usually wave. Unfortunately there have been times when people have thrown bottles out their windows and the occaisional person that gives me no room or worse yet tries to scare me by swerving my way before they are completely by. What does that accomplish? Best case scenario you get a chuckle and you've forgotten it by the time you get home. Worst case scenario - you KILL me. DEAD. No do overs and no mulligans. Maybe it's just me but the risk reward seems a little out of balance here. What I have never been able to figure out is how someone can justify the possibility of killing someone just to amuse themselves or make a point when the only thing I have done is ride my bike on the road.
Ok, for disclaimer purposes I am a cyclist and I ride with Andy Mitchell (the guy in mentioned in the article) regularly. To address kluke's comment, I've seen people do some pretty dumb things on bikes around town, however most of the people I've seen do these things are not what I would consider cyclists and there is no way to teach every random person that gets on a bike. If you can figure that one out I would be all for it because it gives anyone on a bike a bad name. As for stopping at a stop sign, I can assure you that I (and Andy) stop at signs, look both ways and stop at lights just like everyone else on the road. In fact, that's how Andy got hit. He was stopped at the light about to turn left onto Church St (about 100 yards from his subdivision) and he got hit by a driver that ran a red light. How can you possibly excuse this by saying he shouldn't be on the road? By the way, she wasn't even close to making the light. Last but not least I will address the greenway comment. The greenway is a great thing to have for walkers, joggers and people casually riding bikes enjoying the day. However, a lot of cyclists are moving at 20 MPH and being on the greenway with all the walkers, joggers and families is far more dangerous than being on the road. That would really be dangerous.
I have regualar routes that I have ridden (mostly with Andy) for years and the vast majority of the time motorists give me plenty of room and and usually wave. Unfortunately there have been times when people have thrown bottles out their windows and the occaisional person that gives me no room or worse yet tries to scare me by swerving my way before they are completely by. What does that accomplish? Best case scenario you get a chuckle and you've forgotten it by the time you get home. Worst case scenario - you KILL me. DEAD. No do overs and no mulligans. Maybe it's just me but the risk reward seems a little out of balance here. What I have never been able to figure out is how someone can justify the possibility of killing someone just to amuse themselves or make a point when the only thing I have done is ride my bike on the road.
By: bornhere on 1/10/10
Great idea. Education of both motorist and cyclist seems to be in order. What are the laws? Lots of people do not know what the laws are. If the law hasn't changed, I believe it is unlawful to ride a bicycle on a sideWALK. They're seems to be a complete ignorance by a lot of cyclists. It appears to be mostly riders that "new" or of a more "amateur" experience. Maybe one solution, although I don't like more regulation, is to requiring licensing bikes and rider and requiring some education/training in the process. It could pay for itself in the process. Also it would help identify stolen bikes more easily.
Regardless what we do it is a problem we must address.
Great idea. Education of both motorist and cyclist seems to be in order. What are the laws? Lots of people do not know what the laws are. If the law hasn't changed, I believe it is unlawful to ride a bicycle on a sideWALK. They're seems to be a complete ignorance by a lot of cyclists. It appears to be mostly riders that "new" or of a more "amateur" experience. Maybe one solution, although I don't like more regulation, is to requiring licensing bikes and rider and requiring some education/training in the process. It could pay for itself in the process. Also it would help identify stolen bikes more easily.
Regardless what we do it is a problem we must address.
By: bornhere on 1/10/10
Oh, one other thing, forget any hint of a wheel tax on bicycles,( I don't we should start a war) ;)
Oh, one other thing, forget any hint of a wheel tax on bicycles,( I don't we should start a war) ;)
By: graham722 on 1/13/10
It is a shame the article does not mention the existing state law requiring motorists to give 3 feet of clearance when passing bicycles (The "Jeff Roth and Brian Brown Bicycle Protection Act"). See www.tennessee3feet.org for more info. One thing cyclists can do is register for the "Share the Road" license plates that are proposed. This law is not enforced but it should be. Drivers should be aware that not passing with 3 feet between you and cyclist is a class C Misdemeanor.
In Andy's case, the car ran a light and struck another person. There are plenty of existing charges the driver should be subject to. The article neglects to mention whether any of these was applied, or even if the driver stopped. I tend to think that if the laws we already have on the books were enforced, we would go a long way towards making the roads safer for everyone.
It is a shame the article does not mention the existing state law requiring motorists to give 3 feet of clearance when passing bicycles (The "Jeff Roth and Brian Brown Bicycle Protection Act"). See www.tennessee3feet.org for more info. One thing cyclists can do is register for the "Share the Road" license plates that are proposed. This law is not enforced but it should be. Drivers should be aware that not passing with 3 feet between you and cyclist is a class C Misdemeanor.
In Andy's case, the car ran a light and struck another person. There are plenty of existing charges the driver should be subject to. The article neglects to mention whether any of these was applied, or even if the driver stopped. I tend to think that if the laws we already have on the books were enforced, we would go a long way towards making the roads safer for everyone.
By: Mario_Cipollini87 on 1/13/10
Its sad that so many people try to twist the words in this article and try to make it something its not. this article was intended to make drivers beware and show them what can happen if one is not pay attention. This Bicyclist is very lucky to have gotten away with what he did. I hope and pray that he makes a full recovery. I have the utmost respect for bikers especially of those who go out in twenty degree weather and colder and bike. thats hardcore. People are so wrapped up in there lives that they dont bother looking for bikes and thats scary. Get off the cell phones and pay attention to the roads. I ride bikes myself sometimes and i cant tell you the amount of times i have been run off the road because someone wont give me enough room on the road. You have to respect these people just like you would anyone else. They are just out exercising and enjoying there day until you have to come hit them because you werent paying attention and ruin their day. It doesnt take alot of effort to move over does it ??? when i see a bike on the road i always make sure to either change lanes or get over as far as i can safely. As Far as riding on the greenways go some bikers go 30-40 miles in one ride. That would mean you would have to ride the greenway 5 times. Its not the least bit safe on the greenway either. People running and walking with kids. You cant go at the pace that you might want to simply because its to congested.
SHARE THE ROAD !!!
Its sad that so many people try to twist the words in this article and try to make it something its not. this article was intended to make drivers beware and show them what can happen if one is not pay attention. This Bicyclist is very lucky to have gotten away with what he did. I hope and pray that he makes a full recovery. I have the utmost respect for bikers especially of those who go out in twenty degree weather and colder and bike. thats hardcore. People are so wrapped up in there lives that they dont bother looking for bikes and thats scary. Get off the cell phones and pay attention to the roads. I ride bikes myself sometimes and i cant tell you the amount of times i have been run off the road because someone wont give me enough room on the road. You have to respect these people just like you would anyone else. They are just out exercising and enjoying there day until you have to come hit them because you werent paying attention and ruin their day. It doesnt take alot of effort to move over does it ??? when i see a bike on the road i always make sure to either change lanes or get over as far as i can safely. As Far as riding on the greenways go some bikers go 30-40 miles in one ride. That would mean you would have to ride the greenway 5 times. Its not the least bit safe on the greenway either. People running and walking with kids. You cant go at the pace that you might want to simply because its to congested.
SHARE THE ROAD !!!
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