Advocacy & Safety - Residents want cyclists off narrow River Road

it is three pages long
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090315/COLUMNIST0128/903150371&s=d&page=5

Folks living along River Road in western Davidson County have persuaded their state representative to introduce a bill banning cyclists on it, saying drivers must cross the center line to go around cyclists.


I just copied a small piece.

A quote from the article:

"Folks living along River Road in western Davidson County have persuaded their state representative to introduce a bill banning cyclists on it, saying drivers must cross the center line to go around cyclists.

'Do I hit a school bus full of kids head-on, or do I hit the bicyclist? We don't want to pick,' said Rena Clark, head of the Whites Bend Action Group."

Apparently, slowing down, waiting for oncoming traffic to go by, and then passing, is not a choice that has occurred to many members of the Whites Bend Action Group.

I'm not from that part of the country, but I'm still curious to see what happens in this case. Even if the bill passes, it will probably not stand up to legal challenges, but I can well imagine that this could be the beginning of a larger backlash against bicycles on the part of flabby, "entitled", overly car-centric suburbanites across vast swaths of the US.

Next: Paradise Drive in Marin County, CA.

Driving home from skiing this weekend, I was in a long line of cars following the lead car driving ~20 mph less than the speed limit - for 30+ miles on a mountain highway with limited passing opportunities.

Somehow, all but a couple of the folks in line managed to wait for safe opportunities to pass without freaking out - or simply exhibited a bit of patience.

If the slow down had been bicyclists travelling at precisely the same speed, however...

It's remarkable how so many of the incredibly overentitled auto-uber alles types seem incapable of connecting the dots...

That bill was pulled. The outcry to our elected state officials was well heard.

What I would do if this bill had passed and I lived in the area would be to walk my bike on the road facing oncoming traffic in a manner consistent with pedestrian use of the road. They would then have to ban people walking on the road or even create another law stating that pedestrians cannot walk their bike on it. And then it might degrade into you cannot walk while carrying your bike down the road.

It doesn't matter though. My state rep and senator both acknowledged that it was a silly law.

Realizing that the bill is dead, I still thought this is good:


Rep. Gary Moore of Joelton, the bill's sponsor, was convinced of the road's hazards after driving River Road with a state highways official...But none of us took into account that some roads, very few, are not safe for cyclists."I'm aghast :eek: Imagine a road that can pitch up and slap a cyclist while riding! :eek: I didn't know that pavement and tar could do that! I always thought it just laid flat, never moving! OMG! Somebody must've not trained this road very well!

Oh...wait...he was referring to the motorists being dangerous to cyclists! Oh...I see... Since the victim gets mugged outside the supermarket, we should ban them from going to the supermarket in the first place! Great idea!

That bill was pulled. The outcry to our elected state officials was well heard.

The article's dated at 3/15--just a late article? Old news?

Even if it the bill does hold up, they would be making 3 times as unsafe trying to go after a cyclist.

I guess the notion of "if it is unsafe to pass, just wait until it is safe" went out the window with the "2 second rule" or "1 car length for every 10MPH."

Just what the heck are they teaching in driving school these days... how to use a cell phone and drink a Big Gulp?

If you live off this road, how would you go anywhere by bike? Walk or drive to the "safe zone"? How about a warning sign indicating one might encounter a cyclist so drivers can be prepared for the possible encounter.

That bill was pulled. The outcry to our elected state officials was well heard.

^
Supersizing this for the typical A&S'ers who refuse to read the whole thread.



The article's dated at 3/15--just a late article? Old news?

I can't tell you how many times I've seen one of these two-cent excuses for journalists pull up a 2-year-old, defunct issue in order to justify their existence.

-Kurt

^
Supersizing this for the typical A&S'ers who refuse to read the whole thread.




I can't tell you how many times I've seen one of these two-cent excuses for journalists pull up a 2-year-old, defunct issue in order to justify their existence.

-Kurt
Sorry Kurt, I guess maybe we thought the fact that a bill was ever introduced in the first place might warrant some discussion...

it is three pages long
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090315/COLUMNIST0128/903150371&s=d&page=5

Folks living along River Road in western Davidson County have persuaded their state representative to introduce a bill banning cyclists on it, saying drivers must cross the center line to go around cyclists.


I just copied a small piece.

Here is the link to, Tennessee's rules about cyclists riding on the road: http://kba.tripod.com/tncode.htm

It says the same thing, in Maryland. That a cyclist should ride as close to the right-hand side of the road, as is practical.

Just like in Maryland, it is not absolute, that a cyclist ride at the right-hand side of the road. Motorists just like to think that it is!!!!:mad: Because, If it isn't practical, a cyclist shouldn't be expected to do it!!!:mad:

Sorry Kurt, I guess maybe we thought the fact that a bill was ever introduced in the first place might warrant some discussion...

In general, yes, but this specific problem has since died its own natural death.

-Kurt

The article's dated at 3/15--just a late article? Old news?

The OP isn't necessarily that discerning about currentness when posting his latest catch from his Intenet Trolling for "shocking" news. Any proposal will do to stir in the A&S pot no matter how silly or unlikely to ever see the light of day.

Maybe some posters just like to stir pots, eh?

Maybe some posters just like to stir pots, eh?

No need to look all over the Internet for dumb things said about bicycling, BF has loads of material to work with; A & S is a motherload. :thumb:

Cyclists want residents and motor vehicle operators off of River Road.

Cyclists want residents and motor vehicle operators off of River Road.

But not to the extent that we are willing to pass laws about it.

But not to the extent that we are willing to pass laws about it.

And no one is passing a law prohibiting the cyclists off of the River Road either. A lot of hot air smoke without any fire.

The OP isn't necessarily that discerning about currentness when posting his latest catch from his Intenet Trolling for "shocking" news. Any proposal will do to stir in the A&S pot no matter how silly or unlikely to ever see the light of day.

Yea because no one needs to know about these things happening. Keep quiet.

Devil's advocate time.

I Google street viewed the road and it's a very pretty road that I'd love to ride if I lived near it. I'm also guessing it may have been popular among many cyclists. Now I'm not reading 3pages so if someone did and knows this let me know.

I've been on some roads that get infested with bicyclists. Which isn't a big deal but many have treated it like a playground for themselves. As a road cyclist it gets me even more pissed off than when I didn't road cycle. I've had some cyclists hog up popular cycling roads and that upsets many people. Is it possible something like that has happend there? Looking at the road it doesn't look bad at all and even has 6" of curbing to the right of the white line in many parts. I'm thinking that it may have just gotten out of hand.

For those who want to check out the road put this in the google map search:
River Rd, Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee 37209

^
Says the fellow who admits to riding the extreme right edge and nothing else.

-Kurt

I ride River Road a few times a year. It isn't very heavily traveled by bikes or cars. However when the two combine it's bad news. It is rural and the cars and often large trucks tend to speed. The shoulder is poor so cyclist tend to ride on the inside of the line and often the problem is that we ride 2 abreast. It would be a huge deal however if this road was made illegal to ride on for cyclists because there are many similar roads in the West Nashville area that have much greater problems with cyclists. I'd be quite upset.


For those paying attention....this bill has not been killed!!! It has simply been taken off the books for the most recent session. It can be called back at anytime!

And no one is passing a law prohibiting the cyclists off of the River Road either. A lot of hot air smoke without any fire.Because cyclist got the word out, objected to the bill and put the fire out before it could be seen within the smoke.

Yet, folks like you would prefer no one call attention to the smoke and just wait until the fire builds within the smoke and burns the house down.

Amazing how you keep reading these threads that you hate so much. Every neighborhood has to have a nasty grump that gripes about everything. You certainly fit the bill for the BF grump.

Because cyclist got the word out, objected to the bill and put the fire out before it could be seen within the smoke.

Yet, folks like you would prefer no one call attention to the smoke and just wait until the fire builds within the smoke and burns the house down.

Amazing how you keep reading these threads that you hate so much. Every neighborhood has to have a nasty grump that gripes about everything. You certainly fit the bill for the BF grump.
Hate? :roflmao2:
Another bogus attempt from a BF guardian of victimhood to deflect attention to any criticism/skepticism of the practice of BF Chicken Littles posting every snippet of hot air rhetoric they can glean off the Internet, radio talk show, or /neighborhood newsletter as if the sky were falling. Politicians propose a zillion special bills that are going nowhere, and people call in or write Letters to the Editor or Blogs that are dopey as can be, and it doesn't serve bicycling advocacy very well to cry "Fire!" and get worked up into a frenzy every dang time someone verbally or electronically passes gas.

For those paying attention....this bill has not been killed!!! It has simply been taken off the books for the most recent session. It can be called back at anytime!
Presumably, any bill, no matter how frivolous or ridiculous, can be called back, introduced or proposed at any time, eh? Should we all be in a perpetual state of frenzy and alarm?

Hate? :roflmao2:
Another bogus attempt from a BF guardian of victimhood to deflect attention to any criticism/skepticism of the practice of BF Chicken Littles posting every snippet of hot air rhetoric they can glean off the Internet, radio talk show, or /neighborhood newsletter as if the sky were falling. Politicians propose a zillion special bills that are going nowhere, and people call in or write Letters to the Editor or Blogs that are dopey as can be, and it doesn't serve bicycling advocacy very well to cry "Fire!" and get worked up into a frenzy every dang time someone verbally or electronically passes gas.

If you don't like it then don't read it and certianitly don't post here with neagative comments which belittle people.
If it is against BF policy then submit it or move on. If it doesn't fit your standards move on.
I was trying to be informative. If it has no merit it will run its course and end at the bottom. By keeping your keyboard shut you can help send this to the bottom if that is your goal. I learned a few things I couldn't learn from the article, and I didn't even need to ask or spend hours gleaning the internet for more information!


Thank you for the information.

I learned a few things I couldn't learn from the article, and I didn't even need to ask or spend hours gleaning the internet for more information!


Thank you for the information.
Did you learn that the sky isn't falling every time someone, somewhere has a "good idea" about bicycling that isn't necessarily so good?

Hate? :roflmao2:
Another bogus attempt from a BF guardian of victimhood to deflect attention to any criticism/skepticism of the practice of BF Chicken Littles posting every snippet of hot air rhetoric they can glean off the Internet, radio talk show, or /neighborhood newsletter as if the sky were falling. Politicians propose a zillion special bills that are going nowhere, and people call in or write Letters to the Editor or Blogs that are dopey as can be, and it doesn't serve bicycling advocacy very well to cry "Fire!" and get worked up into a frenzy every dang time someone verbally or electronically passes gas.Oh my, the neighborhood grouch got himself all worked up again.:p:roflmao2: