Southeast - Roll call -- Louisiana

Haven't seen any La posts. In particular, is anyone in the New Orleans/Jefferson area (including westbank)?

Lafayette here.

NOLA here, looking for riders! I put an ad on craigslist a week or so ago and have had 1 response, and that was from someone who just bought a new cruiser....Nice stylie bike, but not exactly what i had in mind.

Here is my post.....http://neworleans.craigslist.org/act/262494203.html

Well not exactly La., but the MS coast...

Just registered to check in here.

You can find me biking across the bridge over the train tracks at Claiborne and Press as I try to remember what hills are like.

Hi I'm in Harvey on the Westbank I am and have been carless for a good while now I'd do comfortable rides from Gretna to Waggaman often weather permitting. I cross to the eastbank by the Gretna ferry usually. I have 2 mtb's a cheapy Schwinn that I love and a slightly more expensive Ironhorse that I have in reserve.

What's the Best Bike shop in the New Orlean's Area?

I currently have a G-Fisher Marlin MTB and am shopping for a Roadie, been to a few Bike shops, so far the one that I found with the bes service was up in Covington on the main drag a couple years ago when I first moved here. Didn't have the money for a bike or upgrades on my Fisher.

I live in Old Jefferson right now and will probably bike the Levy and RiverRoad some. I'm just looking to get back in shape and occomplish my first Imperial Century this year.

the best bike shop is Westbank Cyclery in Terrytown. No high pressure sales, if they don't have what you're looking for they won't try to change your mind, friendly staff & thorough mechanical practices.

Haven't seen any La posts. In particular, is anyone in the New Orleans/Jefferson area (including westbank)?

I was wondering the same thing myself. I actually just started reading the forums and this is my first post. I am a senior at Tulane and ride the levy with a couple friends every now and then.

Just signed up here today from Baton Rouge.

Marrero here. Me and r.s. woods are the only people that ride fixed on the westbank as far as I know. If you see a guy on a red fixed gear, say hi!

the best bike shop is Westbank Cyclery in Terrytown. No high pressure sales, if they don't have what you're looking for they won't try to change your mind, friendly staff & thorough mechanical practices.

I've been in there often, seems to me the owner has a standoffish attitude whenever I ask just the simpilist of questions....much rather go to The Pedal Shop on Layfatte in Gretna....

If you don't mind driving north west a little then come ride with us in Baton Rouge! The bike club here is promoting more social rides (<15mph) on the weekends in addition to the distance and racer oriented rides. Check out the website www.batonrougebikeclub.com (www.batonrougebikeclub.com)or look up our BRBC yahoo group for up to the minute ride information.

Hi, I'm in Baton Rouge (LSU area), just wanted to see who else was around here.

im in the Lafayette around. around UL.

I'm in Baton Rouge. Commute everyday to work... well, almost every day. Ride the Comite trails when the kids allow.

in Baton Rouge here, Garden District. I ride around the LSU lakes and the Comite trails quite often now.


here's my intro thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=301795)

NOLA here. I prefer Bicycle Michael's in the Marginy but have also had excellent help from GNO and the used bicycle hut on Magazine. Seeing more bicycles in the area is a pleasing sight.

anyone done the Tour de Louisiana?

good race? Worth the trip from Texas?

Houma....well...I have house and family there...I work in Southern Illinois...I certainly prefer the bicyclist friendlier people here in rural southern Illinois to the not so bicyclist friendly folks of Terrebonehead Parish.

Baton Rouge here..

Houma....well...I have house and family there...I work in Southern Illinois...I certainly prefer the bicyclist friendlier people here in rural southern Illinois to the not so bicyclist friendly folks of Terrebonehead Parish.

Where in So. IL? I am originally from Harrisburg.

I'm in Robinson...it's a bit North of Harrisburg, about an hour and change North of I-64 near Route 1....not far from the Wabash. I had a college instructor from Harrisburg....small world.

I'm from Metairie, Louisiana. - But, I travel with my bike to the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain to take advantage of breathing cleaner air. The bugs over there taste better too. :D

I'm from the Lafayette area. I'm mostly into commuting, utility, fitness, and mountain (swamp?) biking, probably not in that order. I hope you guys are coming to the Critical Mass rides.. they're about the most relaxing ride down Johnson St you'll ever have.

I'm from the Lafayette area. I'm mostly into commuting, utility, fitness, and mountain (swamp?) biking, probably not in that order. I hope you guys are coming to the Critical Mass rides.. they're about the most relaxing ride down Johnson St you'll ever have.

I'm doing the triathlon there in Lafayette next week....

Holy Cow!!! Lafayette has a Critical Mass??!!!???!! That's awesome!! I bet there are a bunch of P.O.'d cajuns ragin!!

Hmmm, a Crit Mass down the only street in Lafayette that has a marked bike lane?
A city that actually has a bikeway plan as part of their long-range development plan?
A city that engaged cyclists to write that very plan?
A city that teaches LAB Effective Cycling as part of the PE program in public middle schools?
A city that I find decent to ride in?

Sounds counter-productive to me.

Allow me to introduce myself: I am a LAB LCI, a cycling advocate, citizen chairman of the Bicycle Committee of the Lafayette Metro Planning Organization and someone who rides Lafayette regularly.

Wow...I didn't realize Lafayette has become so cyclist friendly.....I wish they could share that enthusiasm with Houma and Terrebonehead parish!

I believe if there was ever a critical mass in Houma, there would be a lot of dead cyclists!

yeah, the roads are generally pretty narrow in Houma, too. And busy.

Wow...I didn't realize Lafayette has become so cyclist friendly.....I wish they could share that enthusiasm with Houma and Terrebonehead parish!


Roger that. I did a charity ride over there. We had just gotten started when some idiot in an old p/u truck came around us ranting & raving. Our State Police escort pulled him over.
:D

Iss there a link to the Lafayette roads/trails map(s)? I have one for BR and NO, but no Lafayette.

Sure.
http://cajuncyclists.bicycleracing.com/

cool! Thanks!

Hmmm, a Crit Mass down the only street in Lafayette that has a marked bike lane?
A city that actually has a bikeway plan as part of their long-range development plan?
A city that engaged cyclists to write that very plan?
A city that teaches LAB Effective Cycling as part of the PE program in public middle schools?
A city that I find decent to ride in?

Sounds counter-productive to me.


I am shocked that you would feel that way!

Since you seem to have everyone's best interests at heart, I can only assume that you have been mislead regarding what CM is. So I will tell you. It is a bicycle ride; its participants come for diverse reasons, which does include advocacy, but mostly, for some other reason which remains somewhat ephermal: a sense of peace, and community. It is a ride I would recommend to anyone, even if you are not a hippie anarchist or whatever the stereotype is--because most certainly I am not one myself.

Besides, CM is the only non-racing-speed group ride that exists in Lafayette right now, as far as I know. I'd appreciate knowing about any other.

In case you are wondering, the Lafayette CM ride was about 50 bicycles last month. On Johnson, Congress, and University, the riders used only a single lane, allowing the relatively sparse evening traffic to pass. As far as I know, there has never been an incident or a compliant, as Lafayette rides seem mostly free of the trouble-makers who have plagued some other high-profile CM rides.

Regarding advocacy, this is not my reason for riding in CM, but I beleive it has a place here despite what you have said. Whatever the City has done, many residents still do not tolerate bicycles. Just last month, a student in UL's Vermillion newspaper was quoted as saying he did not beleive bicycles should ride in the road, and it is clear this sentiment is shared by many. For my part, I have been subject to the usual sort of minor harassment; I recently avoided a large globule of saliva aimed from a car on Johnston St, by mere centimeters.

So I respectfully think you have misjudged CM. If Lafayette is truly supportive of cycling, then it should endorse CM wholeheartedly, as have other larger pro-cycling municipalities.


Sorry for the long rant, but I think it was important to say. Can you tell me where I can learn more about these pro-cycling initiatives of the City--perhaps any online resources? I don't participate in city politics, so I should you could understand that I have never heard of any of this.

I am shocked that you would feel that way!

Since you seem to have everyone's best interests at heart, I can only assume that you have been mislead regarding what CM is. So I will tell you. It is a bicycle ride; its participants come for diverse reasons, which does include advocacy, but mostly, for some other reason which remains somewhat ephermal: a sense of peace, and community. It is a ride I would recommend to anyone, even if you are not a hippie anarchist or whatever the stereotype is--because most certainly I am not one myself.

Besides, CM is the only non-racing-speed group ride that exists in Lafayette right now, as far as I know. I'd appreciate knowing about any other.

In case you are wondering, the Lafayette CM ride was about 50 bicycles last month. On Johnson, Congress, and University, the riders used only a single lane, allowing the relatively sparse evening traffic to pass. As far as I know, there has never been an incident or a compliant, as Lafayette rides seem mostly free of the trouble-makers who have plagued some other high-profile CM rides.

Regarding advocacy, this is not my reason for riding in CM, but I beleive it has a place here despite what you have said. Whatever the City has done, many residents still do not tolerate bicycles. Just last month, a student in UL's Vermillion newspaper was quoted as saying he did not beleive bicycles should ride in the road, and it is clear this sentiment is shared by many. For my part, I have been subject to the usual sort of minor harassment; I recently avoided a large globule of saliva aimed from a car on Johnston St, by mere centimeters.

So I respectfully think you have misjudged CM. If Lafayette is truly supportive of cycling, then it should endorse CM wholeheartedly, as have other larger pro-cycling municipalities.


Sorry for the long rant, but I think it was important to say. Can you tell me where I can learn more about these pro-cycling initiatives of the City--perhaps any online resources? I don't participate in city politics, so I should you could understand that I have never heard of any of this.


To be honest, I have never participated in the Lafayette CM, and have, perhaps, unfairly judged it by othe CMs I have seen in Houston & Dallas, plus news reports and this forum.

Cajun Cyclists does have slower paced rides from Pack & Paddle on Saturdays. The club has made a deliberate effort to have group leaders for a more reasonable paced rides, a change from the past.

I am pleased to hear that the road is indeed being shared. This alone puts the CM in question ahead of some others. Please be aware that Louisiana does have a mandatory side path law (unfortunately), so technically, you could be cited for that on parts of Johnson. Never heard of a legal rider being written up for that around here, which is good news. The local club has done a lot of work to gain public acceptance for cyclists. We can include in our ranks police, lawyers & judges who ride.

Search out the Cajun Cyclists Yahoo group, sign up & get on the mailing list. Then you will learn more about what goes on in the Lafayette area. Come to a meeting. Ever heard of the Atakapas-Ishak Trail? If you want to effect a positive change for cyclists in Lafayette, I contend you can do far more working with the system, from the inside, than by butting your head against the monolithic outside of the system. Infiltrate instead.

I’ve marked my calendar for next week. You are right: I really should see before I judge.

I'm one of the rare fixies in Lafayette.

So was I. Converted it to SS this week as a consession to my aging knees.

.................. not so bicyclist friendly folks of Terrebonehead Parish.

You got that right. I live in Bayou Blue and try to ride everyday but getting out on the road with these idiots is death defying.

Please be aware that Louisiana does have a mandatory side path law (unfortunately), so technically, you could be cited for that on parts of Johnson. Never heard of a legal rider being written up for that around here, which is good news.

Could someone explain what this is, and what the implications are?

Sure. Here is the law, from RS 32:

197. Riding on roadways and bicycle paths

A. Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.

B. Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

C. Whenever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway.

What this means is that a cyclist must abandon the roadway whenever there is a nearby bicycle facility. I've interpreted and argued this to be a parallel, signed bikeway in usable condition. It really helps if you know the relevant parts of the code better than whoever you are debating the point with.

To put it in motorists' terms, they gotta bail on the freeway anytime there is a service road.:eek:

Some refer to this as the 'bicyclist inferiority clause' of the Federal uniform vehicle code.

Sure. Here is the law, from RS 32:

197. Riding on roadways and bicycle paths

A. Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.

B. Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

C. Whenever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway.

What this means is that a cyclist must abandon the roadway whenever there is a nearby bicycle facility. I've interpreted and argued this to be a parallel, signed bikeway in usable condition. It really helps if you know the relevant parts of the code better than whoever you are debating the point with.

To put it in motorists' terms, they gotta bail on the freeway anytime there is a service road.:eek:

Some refer to this as the 'bicyclist inferiority clause' of the Federal uniform vehicle code.
Thanks. I sure hope there are provisions for left turns, particularly on multi-lane roads. I ain't walkin.

Thanks. I sure hope there are provisions for left turns, particularly on multi-lane roads. I ain't walkin.

Yep, there is a whole list of exceptions to the sidepath & 'as far right' rules.

The code for LA is here: http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?folder=106

Have anyone else heard the new bike/ped commercial on the radio? They say how drivers need to yield to us or pay the consequences and that cyclists need to ride with traffic. Cool stuff.

Have anyone else heard the new bike/ped commercial on the radio? They say how drivers need to yield to us or pay the consequences and that cyclists need to ride with traffic. Cool stuff.

I haven't heard them, but hey, awesome.

Houma....well...I have house and family there...I work in Southern Illinois...

House and family in the Alexandria area. I work in northwest AR. Member of the 50+ forum. Fuji Newest road bike.

hey, new member here from beautiful mid-city!

rough rider, i haven't heard radio ads in question. in fact, i thought n.o. city ordinance specifically says that cars have right of way over pedestrians. interested in more details if you have them.

i'm a very casual, low-key (read:slow) rider. lately, i've been taking my sunday morning rides in city park. all three golf courses were destroyed by the flood, but they all had wide sidewalks for golf carts to use when the ground got spongy. they're overgrown and a little buckled in spots, but make for an interesting ride.

i thought n.o. city ordinance specifically says that cars have right of way over pedestrians. interested in more details if you have them.

Cars do have the right of way in certain situations [no pedestrian cross walk, etc.] but the traffic laws do apply to cyclists too. You can find two PDFs detailing the laws pertaining to cyclists at http://bike.tulane.edu/laws.htm . Be safe out there.

thanks for the link! i didn't know the laws had been rewritten.

Bossier City here!!! Aint made it to Tiger Stadium since the Dinardo days and thats too dang long! Jan. 7 2008, LSU wins its 3rd National Title!!! GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I ride solo most of the time because of my work schedule, but do as many organized Saturday rides as I can. We have 2 in Shreveport every year and I usually do a couple in East Texas also. Are there any organized charity centuries or metric centuries in Alexandria, Lafayette, or Baton Rouge?????