Cobb cyclists may face 'cruising' law

Cobb cyclists may face 'cruising' law

By CRAIG SCHNEIDER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 01/24/07

Cyclists beware! Cobb County officials may set up some legal roadblocks to cycling on one of the most popular places to ride in metro Atlanta, with fines of up to $500.

With its flat surface, wide shoulders and lack of parked cars, Columns Drive along the Chattahoochee River in east Cobb draws dozens of cyclists on a nice day, including many who use the road as their training track, riding lap after lap up and down the 2 1/2 mile street.

But angry residents who live along the road in homes that cost upward of $1 million say the cyclists whip along three or more abreast, cutting off cars, crowding the roadway and scaring people even as they step out to their mailbox.

Tuesday evening, the county Board of Commissioners held a public hearing on the proposed "cruising" ordinance that would crack down on those who go back and forth along the road. The ordinance would fine anyone who rides past a given point twice in an hour. The law would not apply to cars and other motor vehicles, but would affect skateboarders and roller skaters.

Biking advocates say the new law would effectively shut down the road to many riders. It would be the first such law in metro Atlanta and possibly in the country, said Dennis Hoffarth, executive director of the advocacy group the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign. Hoffarth believes any type of anti-cycling law would be a black eye to Cobb and metro Atlanta.

But residents who live along the Chattahoochee River say they've had enough of dangerous, inconsiderate and, at times, rude cyclists.

"Some of these guys get out of control," said resident Lawrie Jordan. "One time, there were four of them riding together, and we gently hit the horn. One of them started following us home, and verbally abusing my wife."

'A right to the road'

Some cyclists exceed the speed limit of 25 mph, sidle up to cars and knock on the car to get it out of their way, residents say.

The bicyclists, for their part, say they have a legal right to ride there, and that although there are a few bad apples, the riders in general try to be safe and respectful.

"The cyclists have a right to the road," said Jim Hunt, 26. "I know that can be hard to swallow."

He added, though, that cyclists have a responsibility to try to stay on the shoulder.

In a sense, Columns Drive has become a victim of its own success, riders say. On warm days, the shoulders can become congested with cyclists, joggers and walkers, and sometimes cyclists must enter into the road to avoid hitting someone.

Hunt suggested the county consider adding sidewalks.

"I hope everybody would be willing to compromise," he said. "Patience is a big part of it."

Few sites for cyclists

Columns Road, which ends at a parking lot for the river park, is among the safest routes for bike riding in metro Atlanta, and such places are few and far between, said Hoffarth of the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign. Consequently the road draws many riders from outside the area, which piques the home-owners even more.

Cobb officials say there have been 30 road accidents there in the past three years. Eight involved bicyclists, and seven of those resulted in injuries.

Hoffarth says the proposed cruising ordinance smacks of selective enforcement against the riders.

The law would fine a person $50 for the first violation, $100 for the second and $500 for the third within a year.

Hoffarth said he has checked with biking groups across the country and none has heard of such a law. He foresees a backlash, asserting that metro Atlanta would look as though it were cracking down on a healthy recreational activity.

"This could actually be an embarrassment across the country," he said.

Public hearing packed

Riders and residents packed the public hearing Tuesday, and while each side vented their grievances, many on both sides said they wanted to work together to find an answer.

Suggesting some informational signs and handouts, resident Larry Savage said, "Nobody who lives in this neighborhood wants to run over a person on a bicycle."

Cyclist Jennifer Waller said she worried that if the ordinance is passed, she would have to return to riding on the Silver Comet Trail, which she has avoided since a woman was killed there last year.

Cobb Commissioner Joe Thompson, who represents the area, said he will await the public comment before deciding on the proposed ordinance.

Some people involved with the issue are hoping the county is simply floating the proposal as a way to bring the warring parties together and create more compromise.

At the same time, Thompson believes some sort of change is needed.

"Columns Drive is simply not a park. It's a street in a subdivision," Thompson said. "It creates sort of an unsafe situation."

Comments

By Karen Kamna

January 24, 2007 10:31 AM

I had to stop walking the Silver Comet Trail for the same reason. I agree that cyclists have the right to be there, but too many have become rude Trail-hogs. I used to walk my dog (always restrained as required by law) and would not only move to the edge of the Trail, but off the path into the woods, whenever a bike approached. I frequently had riders flip me off and yell at me to get out of the way. One lovely individual charged me on his bike and yelled that my dog had no place there.

By frank lee darling

January 24, 2007 10:45 AM

I dont care how much you pay for your house,no one owns the roads anymore than anyone else. we all pay taxs,i live downtown and belive me i could use a few less cobb residents on my neighborhood roads,but i dont complain.if you live in a metro area tolerance is the key to harmony.riders remember its a neighborhood not a park,be respectful.

By frank lee darling

January 24, 2007 10:48 AM

By Lisa

January 24, 2007 10:51 AM

That’s Cobb county. Developers never thought about healthy lifestyles when putting up the cookie cutter suburbs outside of Midtown/downtown. It’s unfortunate that only now devolpers see what people really want in a neighborhood. I think this is the only city I have ever lived in that did not have sidewalks in neighborhoods. Gee,It’s a wonder that obesity is such an issue. Gasp!

By Big Papa

January 24, 2007 10:58 AM

I agree with the folks @ Columns Drive. I’m sure there are well intentioned cyclists out there, but for the most part, my interaction with them on the road has been negative. I have had numerous experiences of rude, cocky, “I own the road” attitudes from cyclists. Sidewalks won’t solve it-When there’s a sidewalk, they still block the right lane of the road. Unfortunately my stereo type is ego centric wanna bees in tights and european jerseys. Like homeowners assn people-power hungry idiots.

By Gil Gibson

January 24, 2007 10:59 AM

When cyclists have to pay a registration fee to get a bike plate, and ad valorem taxes, and contibute to roads built and maintained by gas taxes, THEN they can say they have a right to the road. Bicyclists think they are superior human beings because they are doing something “healthy” and “good for the environment.” I had a group of cyclists pound on my car shouting “shate the road.” The only problem was they were going the wrong way on a one-way lane. All too typical.

By danica

January 24, 2007 10:59 AM

I have often seen large groups of cyclists, so many I couldn’t count but at least over 50, riding on high volume roads through intown neighborhoods, completely blocking the lane of traffic during during rush hours. The law stipulates bicycles should ride on the far right of the road in single file. So seeing this type of behaviour makes it hard to have sympathy for them. A motorist with a short temper having a bad day could be tradgedy waiting to happen to them.

By Mike

January 24, 2007 11:01 AM

It has been my observation that hard core cyclists are rude and arrogant. They want automobile drivers to obey the rules that apply to they’re rights to be on the road, but they do not want to observe the same rules when they apply to them. Stop signs are a good example. Also autos are not permitted to drive 2 or more abreast, why should cyclists?

By No Surprise Here

January 24, 2007 11:12 AM

This kind of thing has become the status quo for Cobb county. First it was a stupid, meaningless, anti-gay resolution, then we had the equally ridiculous “evolution is just a theory” stickers in Cobb’s science textbooks. Now they’re going to crack down on the most evil and problematic members of our society: Bicyclists.

Thank you to Cobb county for their tireless efforts promoting the image of the backwards south!

By Rich

January 24, 2007 11:14 AM

If I remember correctly, the use of the roads has no relation to taxes or ad valorem tax. The rules of the road are the same for cyclist and cars. Just because I don’t pay car tax or ad valorem does not mean I cannot ride my bike on the roads. I beleive the problem is that a couple of bad incidents had escalated this issue and if you have money as do the residents of Columns, then people will listen. Now let’s talk about the excessive speeding seen each week by cars at Columns!

By MM

January 24, 2007 11:19 AM

As a bike rider and dog walker on the Silver Comet Trail I am appalled at the attitude of most of the bike riders. They are rude and dont respect the rights of others. It is only a matter of time before someone is either seriously injured or possibly even killed by one of these assinine jerks.