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Cyclists have right to be on Fayette roadsTue, 07/03/2007 - 4:11pm
By: Letters to the ...
This is in response to the writer of the Free Speech letter regarding bicyclists riding on roads. She was upset at having to burn $3 gas while sharing the road with bicyclists and stated, “I have a right to the road and you do not.” She also stated, “I will only share the road with another tax-paying vehicle.” According to the Georgia Code 10-14-96, bicyclists have a legal right to operate a bicycle on Georgia roads. That legal right is spelled out in many sections including 40-6-290, 40-6-291,and 40-6-294. Whether you like it or not, you do not have the authority to exclude bicycles from our state or local roads. That is a right guaranteed by the law. With that right also comes recourse when that right is violated. According to NHTSA 2004 data, “41,000 cyclists were injured in traffic.” That number was probably under-reported, since over 500,000 cyclists visit emergency rooms annually. In the vast majority of those 41,000 traffic accidents, someone was ticketed with a violation of the law. That is not the only recourse available to those injured. The civil courts are also available for relief. The surviving loved ones of a cyclist who has been killed in vehicle-related accidents may be able to file a personal injury/wrongful lawsuit for their loss. That lawsuit will cost considerably more than the $3 gas you are using while sharing the road. I have personally found if I ride my bicycle to the extreme right of a four-lane road, cars will pass me without moving any to the left and come close to hitting me with their side mirror. On the same four-lane road, if I stay six feet from the edge of the road, most cars will use the left lane to pass me. I personally stay off of narrow roads and stay away from roads during busy periods to avoid conflicts. Not that it matters, but I don’t wear those “tight little immodest pants” you seem to enjoy looking at. Riding is only one way I choose to stay healthy and enjoy the outdoors. I stay off the cart paths because a bicycle will average around 20 mph. The path is full of children and adults walking, and the closure rate makes this dangerous for all concerned. The bottom line is please share the road and be courteous. Having to slow down for a bicyclist will only delay your trip by seconds and could save you and the bicyclist a lot of heartache and money. Wesley Walker Fayetteville, Ga. login to post comments |