New law proposed banning side-by-side road cycling

[GTscoob]

So the state senate has decided to propose a new law making it illegal to ride two-abreast on the road . . .

Details here:
http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en- ... 012/SB/468
http://www.atlantabike.org/node/2123

I already wrote my local state senators, will you? The roads that I ride on when commuting to work are 10x safer with another person riding with and they're also lined with cops so I'd hate to have to brave Cheshire Bridge and Lenox Roads single file if this law passes. And thats just the biking to work not even bringing in the fitness rides.

[slowguy]

Just about to post the same thing.

Instead of addressing cyclists that are breaking the law... let's just make new one.

[iride]

i much prefer to ride single file, but maybe that's because i ride solo a lot. either way, i don't think there's any reason we shouldn't be able to ride as wide as is a car. we're considered moving vehicles, we should be able to take up just as much room unless there is a specific reason a certain section of road needs to have a minimum speed enforced. and i'm not sure i know any situation where that would be the case...

[Dave C]

Yeah GREAT idea. Make it take twice as long for cars to pass a group of riders.

[iride]

Yeah GREAT idea. Make it take twice as long for cars to pass a group of riders.

that's only an issue for hot headed dbags and 90yo blue hairs. which one are you?

2 abreast and a 3' law accomplish the same spacing.

[Sadlebred]

Rather than whining about it, think about joining the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and Georgia Bikes! They are to road cycling what SORBA/IMBA is to mountain biking. I've had a preview of the rewritten amendment, and it's still bad for cycling in Georgia. It will effectively end all group rides and possibly all centuries/charity rides. Once details come out, I highly recommend contacting your local state legislator.

[bikemap]

I heard it only applies to same sex side-by-side riding.
Does the law address tandem bikes at all?

[mcombs77]

Yeah GREAT idea. Make it take twice as long for cars to pass a group of riders.

I partially agree. I only think you should be able to ride two abreast if you are not impeding traffic. Making it harder for cars to pass only makes it more dangerous for the cyclist since drivers will get very aggressive to overtake the much slower cyclists impeding their movement. The same thing happens to a very slow car.

[GTscoob]

Rather than whining about it, think about joining the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and Georgia Bikes! They are to road cycling what SORBA/IMBA is to mountain biking. I've had a preview of the rewritten amendment, and it's still bad for cycling in Georgia. It will effectively end all group rides and possibly all centuries/charity rides. Once details come out, I highly recommend contacting your local state legislator.

Not sure who this is directed to but I'm a member and frequent volunteer at ABC. Road advocacy almost more important to me than trail advocacy. I love riding trails on the weekend but require the roads to run errands, commute to work, ride for fun, ride for fitness.

Atlanta streets are much safer than when I first started commuting to class and work at Tech 8 years ago. This new law really threatens our rights and safety to ride in groups.

[mountainpass]

http://little5points.11alive.com/news/n ... ed-georgia

I hope we all are contacting our Senators and House Representatives over this bill. If you don't know yours on a first name basis...take them out to lunch. March 7th is crossover day down there. If this bill is to survive it must get to the Senate floor for a vote by then and pass.

[jobu]

This law makes me want to ride in the middle of the road. Though there is a provision that you shall not impede traffic, wonder how they will enforce that?

And by the way, the 3 foot law is nice, but most people that drive still have no clue about it. Organizing rides through Atlanta during the week where 10 or even 100 riders all ride single file in the middle of the road would probably backfire, but it would be fun. Straight down Marietta St. Single file, but in both lanes.

Ok, now that my initial angst is passed, who do I need to call?

[jdunlop]

Update:

http://georgiabikes.org/index.php/blog/ ... te-streets