BluesDawg

The first BATTY ride (Bikes Are Traffic Too, Y'all) was a big success. I counted 29 riders in the photos. After a pre-ride talk by yours truly, we took to the roads to show how well a group of bicycle riders can blend into some of the busiest streets in Milledgeville.

From what I could see, everyone stuck to the game plan and rode according to the rules of the road. As expected, we were split up a few times by parts of the group getting caught at traffic lights or stop signs. But we regrouped at the planned stops and we all got back to the parking lot without incident.

I really enjoyed the after-ride gathering at Blackbird coffee and the chance to hang out with some members of the local cycling scene who I had not previously met. We need to try to get some of these people involved in the club.

Everyone seemed to have had a good time at the ride. I am sure that we met our goal of drawing some positive attention by putting a good sized group of rule abiding cyclists in front of a lot of people.

I am looking forward to an even larger ride next month and to coming up with ways to make it more fun and more visible.

photo album:
https://flickr.com/photos/bluesdawg/s...06936010/show/

a few of Lori's pictures:

maddmaxx 

Good ride, good advocacy.

aqua4her

This post is so timely! Mind if I borrow this idea?

Beverly

Great idea for a ride, BD.

I love the lady wearing the dress and sandals

Spinz

Great plan and looks like a whole bunch of fun too. Lp

BluesDawg

Look again. Not sandals, heels.

BluesDawg

Please do.

John E

Your ride looks like what Critical Mass really should be, but seldom is.

Beverly

Wow! That's even better

I'm sure I would be on the pavement trying to ride in them

jiminos

good on ya, dawg! well done.

be well,

jim

wobblyoldgeezer

Well done, you and your companions. I'm sure you all enjoyed it, and I hope your ride was a pleasant example to the rest of the traffic.
That's what it takes - make it normal, make it fun, make it considerate, make it something that friends and family and neighbours of the wider community take part in.

The Smokester

I enjoy the pictures. Everyone looks so natural and at ease with normal looking clothes. What a great ride idea.

Tom Bombadil

Are those the newfangled clipless heels?

aqua4her

Did this make your local news?

A recent traffic study here recommended the addition of a bike lane. I was shocked at the opposition voiced and misinformation expressed about cyclists using the road. Your idea is so much more civilized that organizing a rumble on the town square!

BluesDawg

Our club has a great relationship with local media, especially the newspaper. There was a front page (below the fold) story announcing the ride on the day of the ride. A reporter was on hand at the event taking pictures and interviewing participants. The story was not in today's paper, but I'm sure it will be there soon.

doctor j

Well done on the ride and the message to the community, Dawg!

luv2cruz

Great idea, BD...those kids in the last photo need helmets on, tho...

I'm sure you mentioned that...

cyclinfool

+1 - they should have been asked not to participate unless they had helmets.

BluesDawg

I understand your position, but I can't agree. We invited people to join us for a ride, at their own risk, to demonstrate riding by the rules of the road. There is no law in Georgia requiring anyone over 16 to wear a helmet while operating a bicycle. We do require helmets for our paid registration rides, like our April Fools Ride.

We are in a college town. Our sidewalks are full of students riding illegally on the sidewalks with no helmets. A big part of the purpose of this ride was to try to educate people on how to ride safely and effectively. I made strong arguments in the pre-ride talk against sidewalk riding and for wearing helmets. We had 4 people riding without helmets. If we had turned them away, they would have not heard that. They would have gone right back to riding on the sidewalk. I know that at least two of them (the two in the photo) plan to get helmets and to wear them when they ride. There were several riders wearing helmets who had come to previous club rides without helmets but gradually came around to accepting that helmets are a good idea. You can't teach people who you turn away.

Yen

What a wonderful idea. If you educated only one that day, the word will spread to others. I like how everyone looks so relaxed and happy in their normal clothes.

I like your philosophy about educating the group on helmets without turning them away.

As for the woman in heals..... I'm with Beverly... I'd be on the pavement. Now, if she could slip the heal of her shoes thorough the platform pedals, she'd be clipped in.

Beverly

I agree, BD.

We have a similar situation with the park biking program. We're there to introduce people to the trails in our area and teach them trail etiquette. We don't require helmets but urge them to wear them for safety. Most of the people without helmets will return the following week with one

When we ride within the Dayton city limits we do require children under 16 to wear a helmet as it's a law there.

BluesDawg

Check it out! This story was on the front page of today's paper (above the fold )with a large color photo.

https://www.unionrecorder.com/local/l...254222449.html