[/From: Ingolf Partenheimer [mailto:IPARTENHEIMER@...]
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 10:58 AM
To: XXX
Cc: Lea Anne Batson; Pat Culbertson
Subject: RE: Help w/ River Road



Dear XXX,



First, I would like to say how relieved I am that the accident was avoided.
That having been said the following will probably upset you, but it must be
pointed out.



Legally, bicycles are legal vehicles on all public roadways except on
Interstates. Bicycles have the same rights to the use of a roadway as do
cars/trucks etc. As a safe and prudent driver, it is incumbent upon the driver
of a passing vehicle to leave a long enough distance (gap) between himself and
the vehicle in front of him for him to be able to see and not be surprised by
what is coming up. The possible consequences could be a death of a bicyclist and
a charge of Vehicular Homocide.



That said, I drive River Road alot too. Sometimes, I have to wait for an
approaching vehicle to pass me before I can pass a bicyclist. It's definitely
fustrating. But over time I have realized to expect bicyclists on this roadway
and to leave the room between me and the car in front of me. Hopefully, in the
near future the bike lane on the levee will be lengthened to cover all of River
Road to New Orleans. However, until then we should take extra care and share the
road with Bicyclists. It's only fair!!



Respectfully,

Ingolf A. Partenheimer, P.E., P.T.O.E.
Chief Traffic Engineer
City Of Baton Rouge - Parish Of East Baton Rouge
DPW/Traffic Engineering
329 Chippewa Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70805
(225)-389-3246 (Office)
(225)-389-7633 (Fax)

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