OK. Enlighten us on what laws should be changed. Please realize that they have to be able to work outside of PTC and consider that people do use their bicycles for commuting and running errands (which is encouraged by the state and national entities).

well, we could start with a MINIMUM SPEED so that when you don't have the good manners to get off the road and is everyone lined up behind you on an unpassable two lane road, you could be ticketed. Now using my bike to run errands is something I never thought about. I could put my kid on the handle bars to ride to and from school, and when I go to Home Depot, I could drag my new chain saw along behind me comming back. Wow, the possibilities are endless! When I'm sick, I could hopp on my bike to go the the drug store for my prescription!
For those bikesters that want to run the stop signs etc, make I suggest a bull's eye on each cheek! Let me state the obvious, legally you are right, but by trying to prove a point and hogging the roads, you may be DEAD RIGHT in the end, and ther VERDICT...FINAL!

I need to respond here as the tread is getting way too narrow. I rode the strand as well and I still have very fond memories of it.

yep, that is where I learned about "hitting the brick wall" or whatever you call it. I had been told that right before your body switches over to using nothing but your body fat, it would feel like you couldn't go another inch, then once you went through it, you could go forever. I use to ride down there every day, then I decided I was going to go down to Hermosa or as far as I could get. On the way back, and it was miles. I hit it, then it was just like they say, you felt like you could go on and never get tired. I use to work out a lot, it's funny I never experienced that before. What is the real deal behind that anyway?

I completely understand your feelings. I had chosen my moniker to be sort of a lighting rod in order to get some lively discussions about bicycling. And yes, discussions have been lively at times. I figure someone that rides should at least “support the cause” and possibly enlighten the public. What I do not support is contempt of our laws by both cyclists and drivers. Hope everything is well - Happy Blogging

I lived in Hawthorne and you. Are you out here in Georgia as a result of certain merger in 1987?

I lived in the Marina. You are taking about the Western/Delta merger..no I was already with Delta, I moved here cause I got tired of, after paying my rent, having just enough left over for the month to buy a bag of chips and a beer! As you know, DL pays the same in LAX, ATL and NYC.

Yes much more bang for the dollar at least for housing. My electric bill however, went from 30$ a month to 150$. (Didn't need AC since only lived a few miles form the ocean.) Those were the days. Yes I hit the bonk several times. The one I remember most was a round trip to Camarillo about 136 miles. At the end I was no longer pedaling in circles but squares. Good talking with you!!!!

sorry to have been so mean about everything. I hit someone once and I never forgot it. Years ago, I was driving along in the spring looking at how pretty everything was and plowed right past a stop sign and hit a guy right in the drivers side. When I came to, I saw the man slumped over his wheel. I will never fault a hit and run driver, because to be honest, all I wanted todo was leave and tell myself it never happened. Lucky for me my car wasn't driveable. Someone pulled me out the window and they took me to the hospital. I knew I had killed the man and it was my fault. You can never know what that feels like till you've been there. It turned out the man wasn't dead, but was an MD there at the same hospital. He was hurt pretty bad and had amnesia. It took about a month for his mind to come back. Do you know what it's like to think you made a cab driver out of a brain surgeon? He was very nice about it and didn't sue me. In all my years of driving, I have had only one wreck since. I will never forget what it feels like to think you have killed someone and it is your fault. I would never wish that on anyone. All the sorrys in the world can never undo one accident. That is a big reason I try so hard not to hit a biker, or be hit myself, I never want to feel that kind of guilt again, or have anyone else feel it on my account.

Well, we can see you don't have a clue!

I do have a clue....the laws should be changed. I am both a bike rider and a car driver...in both I make myself accountable...what don't you like about being accountable for what happens to you and others. Everyone would like to be not held responsible, but then we grow up.

OK again the question, which laws should be changed?

I think the laws we have on the books are already pretty good. They just are not enforced.
The roads stink. Many other states I have lived in have paved bike lanes/emergency lanes. If you are on a bike you have to be on the right side of the white line or get a ticket.

Actually the vehicle code 40-6-294 does not acknowledge a white line. It states that a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable. Also, it notes different scenarios which allows a cyclist to take a lane or move to other lanes of traffic.

Georgia's cycling laws fall under the uniform vehicle code which is shared by other states.

I suspect that "Too Bad" is confusing laws and their enforcement. Laws are rules and the "accountable" portion is the enforcement for which I have no argument there.

I know GA law does not acknowledge the white line, but I think it should. It works in other states. The shoulder is paved and the white line separates bikes and pedestrians from cars. It's safer for everyone.

Most states that I'm familiar with and have rode in acknowledges "right side of the roadway as practicable" with no mention of a white line. I'm curious, which states acknowledge riding to the right of a white line?

now that it is mentioned, I have seen that in other states, maybe Mississippi in places? That would be wonderful. It seems that in Georgia the shoulder of the road is getting smaller. That is bad for cars as well as bikes, cause you have no where to go to avoid hitting someone. I think a paved shoulder with a white line would solve a lot of problems. I don't think they should let you ride a bike on a highway without a place for you. The thought of hitting a biker gives me the willies, cause you know you'd kill them. You are right, I'm not familar with the laws here cause I make a point not to ride in traffic. Marina Del Rey used to have bike paths along the side of the road, I took those only a very short distance to get to the bike paths along the beach. Now that is ..THE.. place to ride! From the Marina down to Manhatten Beach, then Hermosa! That is beautiful! You are safe, no cars for miles, just you and the path and the beach.

You just don't get it! The creed of the cyclist is that if you stop for traffic in front of you, or at intersections, your heart rate will slow and ruin the whole thing.
If you signal a turn or a stop, you look like a dummy and your spandex would stand out.
You must ride in a group, not only for the social event, but for protection from those other pests on the highways--trucks and buses.
It gives one the mental attitude of healthy being to cycle 20 or 30 hours per YEAR. Also, makes a great conversation piece hanging in your den in the winter and hot months.
If you get lonely, you can fire up the cycles for You, Mom, and Junior, and head out around the block (towing Missy) and stop everytime someone speaks to you and make a date for a party!
There ain't many Lance Armstrong's in PTC.

Dollar,

I'm beginning to see why noboby likes you or your blogs.

Amen!!!!