Interesting comment from a bicycling attorney...

"Where the roads are dominated by the automobile, it is because they have been usurped. Many motorists — specifically, those who refuse to share the roads — mistakenly believe that possession of a driver’s license gives them a superior claim to the road. These are the motorists who exclaim that, 'Until cyclists are licensed and insured, they don’t have a right to the road.' In fact, the right to travel is an ancient right, now recognized as one of our constitutional rights, and the roads are the commons, open to all for travel and other uses. Rather than signifying a superior claim to the road, a driver’s license merely grants the holder the revocable privilege of operating a motor vehicle on the commons. Because other road users are not required to be licensed (and that tacitly means this right cannot be revoked) their right to use the roads is in fact superior to that of the motorist."

(SOURCE: http://bicycling.com/blogs/roadrights/2010/06/24/an-illegal-bike-ban-%E2...)

I recently became aware of a report released by the San Francisco Civil Grand Jury discussing the barriers that exist in regards to a peaceful co-existence between motorists and cyclists. Here's the complete document.

I believe that many of the recommendations in the report can be applied here in Atlanta as well. I hope ABC can find a way to get a copy to our local elected officials.

Here's a summary for you of the portions I think hold true in metro Atlanta:

As a bike commuter, and knowing that there are many others, I would like to share this "Dictionary of Bike Commuter Slang" from bikehacks.com. Enjoy!
PS - This morning I was a babe ruth, and saw my fair share of crop dusters on the road. Why don't the cops pull these folks over??

Doing some thinking (my head still aches) and wondered what if I never became a bike commuter. Humm....

I would alternate between mass transit, and driving a car, because I would have never get rid of my car. While taking mass transit, I would be greeted every day by glum faces ready to begin the workday. I may as well be waiting for the second coming, if I’m waiting for MARTA, and certain buses would have the oppressive smell of sweat and urine mixed with equally oppressive heat.

Saw this story on Bikehacks.com and I just had to share it with you all. The basic story is that Charlie, a 7 year old boy, wanted to do something to raise money for the Haiti earthquake relief. So he decided to raise £500 by riding his bike five miles around his local park.

Well as of today, Charlie has raised over £150,000 (that's over 241,935 U.S. dollars.)

Amazing what a 7 year old on a bike can do.. And to think when I was 7, I was just happy with putting playing cards on the spokes for that "motorcycle effect."