The people who decide to ride their bikes on the public roads are a nuisance. They are placing themselves in jeopardy by riding on roads that was designed for motor vehicles. Many is the time I have had to lock down on the brakes after rounding a curve and there is a bicycle dragging along 45 mph below the speed limit. And on a curvy road where there are a dozen or more riders,it is impossible to pass safely,as they are so strung out.

Hmmmm.....I guess the other sixty-nine percent of cyclists deaths occur because of an auto driver's failure to yield the right of way.

Use some sense people. A bicycle cannot do the speed limit. An auto, although capable of high speeds does not need to go faster than the speed limit. A cyclist does not need to breeze through lights or stop signs. A motorist does not have the ultimate right of way because the road was built for autos. A cyclist does not need to ride in the middle of the road. An automobilist should share the road with all vehicles.

There was a time when automobiles would round curves on roads, whether in the city or rural areas, and low and behold there was a farmer with a horse/ox/mule drawn wagon or other farm type apparatus. Or it could have just been a horse & buggy.

The animal drawn vehicle could not reach the speed of the automobile. While animal drawn vehicles are almost non-existent today, they still have the right to travel on the roads that their "ancestors" established. There are specific laws today regarding this issue in places like Pennsylvania, etc.

If that right goes for automobile/animal then it should follow for automobile/bicycles as well.

We all live on this earth together. We should strive to respect the rights of others to live their life in the way they choose. I have bicycled in the Triad, Triangle, Richmond,VA, and my worst experiences have come in the Triad. Somehow, automobile drivers in this area seem to have the least respect for bicyclists.

And I do agree that there are many bicyclists who do not obey the traffic laws. They need to learn these before they get on the road.

My point was that our paved roads are not engineered for bicycle riding,they are designed for motor vehicles. A tractor pulling a wagon load of hay USUALLY has another vehicle driving behind them with the fashers turned on as a warning to other traffic.

YD, if what is said is true, then why does the NCDOT have signs that read, "Share the Road" and then have a symbol representing a bicycle on them. Would it not stand to reason that if the roads were not engineered for multiple vechicular use, that the roads would have restrictions listed?

Would you be allowed to normally drive your car down High Point Road going 8 miles per hour?

The answer is no.

If you did, you'd be a nuisance to other drivers who are trying to go a normal speed.

Then why are bicycles treated differently? At this point, I think laws should be amended and certain roads should be made 'bike-free'.

Either that or a special bike's only lane should be built so both bikes and cars can operate safely on our roads.

I don't think tractors and construction equipment should be thought of the same as bicycles. They are usually used for work, not transportation.

Darryl,those "share the road" signs were were added as bicycle traffic increased. The roads were not designed to handle bicycle traffic. When I visited Germany, almost all the roads had bike paths built along side the roads and these were for bicycles ONLY. Worked very well,but it must designed into the initial plan. A "share the road" sign doesn't cut it.

YD, are you willing to support the raise in taxes to build bicycle thoroughfares?

If so, let's get it done!

If not, stop the bellyaching sharing the road and drive civilly & respectfully. Treat the bicyclist just as you would another automobile.

I thought that's what these posts were for,bellyachin'. FYI I do drive civilly & respectfully. Haven't run over one yet. One more comment and I'm through with this subject. Some of those bike riders has a lot more nerve than I riding along curving roads where the speed limit is 50 mph.

HAH, someone answer me this. Why, when there is a perfectly good sidewalk inches away from the road, dont people who are riding switch to those? There are leveled off crubs so they dont ahve to jump off of them. I think that persons who want to ride a bike to work, school and to run errands should be commended. But if you are doing it for exercise, why not take your bike to one of our parks?

Kelley

Sidewalk: Notice the word 'walk' is included in the word? That's because sidewalks are for walking on, not riding on.

I've been nearly ran over by bicycles flying on sidewalks. That is not the solution.

Yarddog is right about Germany. One of the things done right during Hitler's rule was the infrastructure in Germany. Roads consist of bike lanes, walking lanes, car lanes, and underground tunnels where all utility lines are. It really is a beautiful thing.

I am a little late to the party but I almost fell out of my chair laughing when Mr. Walker stated the following:

"Automobile drivers, use care. Don't pass closely, cut them off or otherwise drive recklessly. Carefulness is better than regret."

Having been riding for the past 3 years I have been lucky enough not to be hit. I cannot say that for other cyclist who have been hit by people without insurance or licenses. However, I have had my close calls with people in vehicles that have a total disregard for cyclists. In fact I believe it is a game to some motorist to see how close they can get to the cyclist without hitting him or her.

You would think with our nation being so overweight that people would embrace people trying to become more fit and healthy. Instead all we get are people driving huge vehicles thinking the road is their property and a county second in the nation in sprawl.

You will always have people that are a nuisance whether it be motorist or cyclists. But for goodness sake share the road. Cyclist have just the same right as motorist to be on the road. Also no cyclist averages 8 miles an hour. At minimum it would be 15 mph. Also based on statements by Darryl and Charles I would bet good money that neither has ever ridden or knows somebody that rides a road bike.