Southeast - Columns Drive Controversy

In case you haven't heard:

Cobb County is preparing to pass a "No Cruising" Ordinance on Columns Dr., a popular road for cycling. It would prohibit all vehicles, including bicycles, from circling the road more than two times in an hour. This is being done *specifically* to prevent cycling on Columns Dr.

Two public hearings will be held. This quote is from a letter sent to the Cobb County Bicycle Users Group: "Additionally, the Board will soon hold public hearings regarding revisions to the Cobb County Codes, which may include a proposed "No Cruising Ordinance" on Columns Drive. Two public hearings are scheduled for Tuesday, January 23, 2007 and Tuesday, February 27, 2007. The hearings will begin promptly at 7:00 pm prior to the beginning of the regularly scheduled BOC meetings. The public hearings and BOC meetings will be held in the BOC Meeting Room, 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta, GA 30030". Contact Laraine Vance, Planning Division Manager, at lvance@cobbcounty.org for more information.

It figures that Cobb county would do something stupid.

If it passes every biker should screw the bike lane and ride the middle of the road twice in each hour at a very leisurely pace. Or better yet ride Johnsons Ferry Road and really screw up traffic.

Thanks for the info bikebuddha. I hope you don't mind me using some of your information on our website - http://www.atlantabike.org/Columns_Drive.html

I'd hoped to find more info or impressions here on this topic as the debate continues :( I went to the hearing last night at the Atlanta Country Club, and I went to the hearing last week at the Cobb Govt Ctr County Commission meeting room. Last week I was heartened because so many cyclists were there, many more than residents in support of the ban, but after last night I am depressed. I arrived late and so was first actually in the back of the residents-for-the-ban meeting room, with the cyclists in the room behind it, but what bothered me most were two things -

1. The residents still seemed to be operating under the impression that we (cyclists) are a nuisance not to be tolerated except under their gracious sufferance, not the legal road users we are under current law and no one seemed to be bringing this home to them

2. I had learned before the last meeting that the commissioner that proposed this ordnance, Thompson, was my actual representative to the commission because his district apparently wraps around 285 to encompass my community. I had sent him a very polite and thoughtful letter, free of anger or rude rhetoric. At the end of the meeting last night I approached him and introduced myself as one of his constituents and mentioned that I had sent him a letter, but that I hoped he was reconsidering his proposal at this point. I gotta say, I thought the guy was rude. He struck me as wanting to just blow me off. He told me that Columns was not a park and that the residents were basically in need of relief. It certainly seemed as if the relief he is seeking is in the form of pushing this ban through?

I heard proposals and statements that were so overwhelmingly popular, like speed bumps and demanding cyclists stay 'inside' the white line....

Sometimes I really wish I lived someplace more progressive! I can't escape feeling that you buy a home at Columns knowing in advance what the road use is, so why are you complaining? I think it's akin to buying a home in the French Quarter but then trying to ban drinking and partying.....

Thanks for the update. What a shame this is even being debated!

Click here (http://www.atlantabike.org/Columns_Drive.html) to read more about the Columns Drive issue.


For other Atlanta area bike issues, click here (http://www.atlantabike.org/Take_action.html). If you know of any other Atlanta area bike issues, please send me a PM with any details you have.

The following was in today's AJC. Is this a small victory for cyclists?
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cobb/stories/2007/02/06/0207metbike.html

Cycling in single file may end road debate

By CRAIG SCHNEIDER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/07/07

Cobb County Commissioner Joe Lee Thompson said Tuesday that he may kill his controversial proposal to ban bicycle cruising on a popular road and replace it with a rule that cyclists travel in single-file lines.

Thompson said he started drafting the replacement ordinance Tuesday after a meeting Monday in which a committee of riders and residents tentatively agreed to the single-file rule.

The committee of about 20 cyclists and residents was created after a public meeting on the topic last week. Several members said they hoped the agreement signals a resolution between two groups who have blamed each other for years for the safety problems on Columns Drive in east Cobb. The 2.5-mile road is among the most popular cycling spots in metro Atlanta, but each group complains the other intrudes on their rights to the road.

Thompson said the police could be called to enforce the new ordinance against problem riders. It remains undetermined whether the new ordinance would include fines, Thompson said.

State law restricts cyclists to ride two abreast, but it lets local governments make that rule more restrictive, Thompson said. He said he expects the Cobb County Board of Commissioners to vote on the ordinance Feb. 27.

Thompson credited the residents and cyclists with coming to the negotiating table rather than digging in their heels.

"They've agreed to help bring order" to the road, Thompson said.

Cyclist Mark Gernazian, who served on the committee, said the cyclists have softened their insistence on their rights.

"Trying to drive home our rights to the road was not going to create any harmony on Columns Drive," he said.

Homeowner Sheri Hardy, who also served on the committee, praised the single-file rule.

"I think it will solve all the problems," she said. She said she is optimistic the cyclists can pressure one another to follow the rule. "I think we have to give them a chance."

Good to see that they're trying to make it work. Along those lines, cyclists should make an effort to ride single file especially when there is traffic present. I think it's a common courtesy and have no problem with it at all. That being said, when we left Helen last year at the beginning of the BBB century there was a peloton of ~40 cyclists (including me) that stayed together for the first 10 miles or so.......and we took up every square inch of lane. It was such a rush. And there was no traffic IIRC.

There is no traffic on the road, hence the reason people bike on it. I don't know how this can disrupt the non-existence of traffic. Also doen't seem wierd that these people chose to live off of Johnson's Ferry and complain of traffic.

There is no traffic on the road, hence the reason people bike on it. I don't know how this can disrupt the non-existence of traffic. Also doen't seem wierd that these people chose to live off of Johnson's Ferry and complain of traffic.

Well said. I used to live up there and ride Columns Drive and still do when I visit. There is almost no traffic.

The single file law passed. Not too sure how I feel about that. Here is the AJC article (http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cobb/stories/2007/02/27/0228metcobb.html). I'd hate to see this law like this being passed in Dekalb county.

I can understand the frustration that the residents (cagers) have when cyclists ride two or more abreast. Although state law allows two abreast riding for cyclists, I believe it states that cyclists should ride single file when there is traffic on the road. I sure hope the cyclists will respect that they should ride single file when in traffic or else they'll screw it up for everyone else.

Shoot.

Michael