Mr. Peters, you could ride a motorcyle and save on gas. Of course people have a problem with that too. Not enough of a status symbol unless you get a Harley or Indian which would cost about as much as a SUV. If you have to ride a bike I have a suggestion. Get some big plastic fairings and paint a race number on them. You know, like the number 3. It seems to go over big with the locals when you have NASCAR numbers on your vehicle.

I ride a bike to keep in shape. There are roads I dare not tread on here in the Triad. There are too many people in a hurry and who are careless. Most of the time I avoid times like rush hour or the lunch hour when riding. Not only is this courteous to the auto drivers, but it is self-preservation in action.

After having one of my friends hit by a car, one injured from someone throwing something at them, and one shot by a motorist I have come to the conclusion, as you have, that lots of people think that only their cars belong on the road. These are the road ragers who seem to think they own the road. Their argument is usually, "I pay my taxes, you don't. So get off my road." Each year society becomes more entangled in this selfish argument. These people never think that others pay taxes also. Nor do they realize the NCDOT publishes maps and a website promoting bicycle transportation.

As the price of gas rises, so will the number of cyclists on the road. As the number of cyclists rise, so will the amount of road rage. I hope some of you don't run over or side swipe someone who is on the way to work to provide for some kid's education or home. Just remember the three Cs: Courtesy, Co-operation, and Caution.

Greensboro friendly? Thanks for my Monday morning laugh.

Peters,

Here's an idea for you. Mayor Holiday is running unopposed for re-election in Nov. It's too late for you to file to run against him so why don't you mount a write in campaign for yourself as Mayor running on a "make greensboro more cycle friendly" platform?

You'd get more publicity for your cause doing that then a letter to the editor and the local radio stations would enjoy having someone else to interview.

Mr. Peters,

Let's clear up some confusion.

As stated last week in the blogs and repeated in Sunday's N&R article, it was NOT the City of Greensboro or the County of Guilford that put up the "no bike" signs on Bryan Blvd. That portion of the road is maintained by the state and is subject to their rules.

As to your "weaving around Hobbs Road and Benjamin Parkway," I would prefer that you occupy your lane and properly signal when you change lanes, just like we drivers have to do. Your weaving and that of your associates is one of the complaints we drivers share in opposition to some bike riders on public streets.

hey mad dog, how many of us gas guzzling, road raging, auto drivers actually use turn signals? how about Byclists get license plates, pay that $20 license plate renewal, get cyclists insurance, pay $30 for a State safety inspection sticker and pay the tax based on the government's value of the bike? if yall pay that then i feel like you have just as much reason to switch from lane to lane without turn signals and stuff just like the rest of us evil, earth killing, car drivers.

No, no no. I got it. Really. Since persons on bicycles feel that they have just as much right to the roadway as persons in actual vehicles do, let’s see what they think about this. How about instead if me driving on the street, I take my mini-van up on to the sidewalks and drive there? No one else wants to use them anyway. Sure I will avoid people who are walking. While I am at it, i'll just go for nice relaxing drive on the bike trails in some of the local parks, since they aren’t good enough for bicyclists either.

No no no.....let me help you get this right. A bicycle is a vehicle. Check out the DMV. Bikes are subject to and break the same laws as cars do. That means that someone can receive a ticket for driving on the sidewalk, which is pedestrian, whether they are on a bike or in a mini-van. As stated before, use some courtesy, co-operation, and caution when operating any vehicle.

If thats true, then millions of kids are going get tickets for riding their bikes on the sidewalks. OUt of curiosity I asked my husband ( an acutal officer) about the bikes on sadewalks thing. According to him, there is absolutley no law preventing it, and no ordinance discouraging it. There are only rules (posted by sign in most parks) urging bicycles to yeild to pedestrians. So your welcome for helping you get this straight.

Sorry I hit post to soon. As a matter of fact, the section of "code" t§20-4.01 (49)(that you are referring to) of the North Carolina traffic code states: "...for the purposes of this Chapter bicycles shall be deemed vehicles and every rider of a bicycle upon a highway shall be subject to the provisions of this Chapter applicable to the driver of a vehicle except those which by their nature can have no application." If you were to actually read that chapter you would see that it does not make any metion of sidewalks. They refer to Bicycles as being "vehicles" so that they may enforce common traffice laws, such as signaling and obeying traffic laws. If you have seen otherwise on the NC DOT.DMV web site, please share with us the address so that we may get it straight for ourselves.

Kelley, town and city ordinances may regulate sidewalk traffic as they see fit. Look around some of the towns in NC and you will see signs posted that prohibit bikes from being on sidewalks. I know a few people who have been ticketed or warned for such vioilations. These would not be listed in the NCDOT or NCDMV, but would come under each district's restrictions.

6stringsamurai,

I don't know how many of you use turn signals, but I always do, ESPECIALLY when changing lanes. That's the only way the other folks behind you or ahead of you can even guess what you're up to. And drivers, please use your turn signal BEFORE you make your turn. I think DMV says 100 feet in town and 300 feet on the highway. Let us poor souls have some warning before you start your turn.

When I was a kid, mama & pop allowed me to ride my bike on the hi-way, but I knew that if a car or truck came along, I needed to get out of the way. Two reasons - one was safety, and the other was to be COURTEOUS to the motoring public! Now, all we hear about is "my rights". This rude, selfish "me, myself, and I" attitude is symptomatic of everything that is wrong with this country today. If I had not got off of the hi-way when a vehicle approached in my youth, my backside would have been warm, and the bicycle would have been parked for a good long while. I think cyclists should be allowed to use the highways, as long as they don't create a safety hazard for the motoring public (this includes riding fast enough NOT to obstruct the flow of traffic, thereby creating a safety hazard). Common courtesy never goes out of style, and the cyclist should pull over to the curb to prevent obstruction/safety issues. If they are rude and selfish and refuse to exhibit a degree of courtesy by getting out of the way of the faster flow of traffic, then they are actually committing a crime and should be cited for the offense, which, in reality, amounts to reckless endangerment of the motoring public.

Ever hear a bike coming up behind you while you're walking on a sidewalk?

You stay still hoping that they know you are going to stay still but not knowing for sure. It's pretty scary.

I think sidewalks are for walking. That's why they are called sidewalks. To 'walk' on the 'side' of the road.

Roads are called roads because they are supposed to be road on.

I bought a bike last week and I have both sides of the story as first-hand experience now. I bought a bike for fitness and enjoyment and I feel that I have every right to be able to ride along the side of the street if the law permits. Yes, I pay taxes just like everyone else. I even paid the sales tax on the bike and all the gear to go along with it.

I've ridden close to 40 miles along the city streets and I have to say it can be a scary experience. Market, Friendly, Battleground, High Point, Spring Garden past campus...those are all thoroughfares to avoid as far as I am concerned. If there is an alternate route to get where I want to go, you can bet I'll do my best to find it.

Yes, there are trails that cater to bikers, and they are great for recreation. Anyone wanting to use a bicycle as a mode of transportation quickly learns that getting from A to B is an exercise in side-street exploration and frightening rides on the no-shoulder boulevards. As a cyclist, I'd love to have roads with shoulders wide enough for me to get out of the way of motor vehicles. Only a real idiot would block the flow of automobile traffic when there is another option available.

As a newbie cyclist, I also have to say that riding along the sides of some streets is easier said than done. Our city streets are littered with broken glass. I'm not too keen on puncturing my brand new tires, so I try to avoid that stuff. Drainage openings pose another problem. You can't ride over those things. They dip down way too sharply in a lot of places. The lip of the asphalt on the side of the street is a problem too. You catch a tire on that and suddenly you're on your side in traffic. Parked cars obviously are an obstacle as well. You simply cannot ride safely on the true side of many streets in Greensboro. There are reasons most of us are wearing helmets.

Don't even get me started about trying to make a left-turn around here. And I have to concur that motorists using signals is a HUGE help.

I do my best to stay as far right as is practicable. I think any cyclist in his right mind tries to do the same. None of us want to risk broken bikes or broken bones or worse. For those drivers out there, please consider the reasons we're riding on the portion of the rode we're occupying. It's not out of spite, it's out of necessity. And I'd go faster if I could. I am not going to be able to keep up even 20 miles per hour for long. And that's on the flats. Sorry.

As a motorist, the thing that bothered me most was the failure of cyclist to obey traffic signals. Cyclist need to stop for red lights just like the rest of us in our cars, trucks, minivans, etc. It still infuriates me to watch some guy on a bike plow through a red light, especially when it's some guy in a full cycling regalia. You obviously know better. Just remember that cycling elitism doesn't do anything for the cause.

I think all of us would agree that separate byways for automotive and cycling traffic would be the ideal answer. Consideration of cyclist when planning our streets would also help. Until those things come about, if ever, the streets are places we'll have to share. I think it was noted that being considerate and courteous is best for all.

On that note, I can't believe all the rancor generated by this one issue! I never knew so many people had problems with cycling. My best advice is to get a bike and try it from the other side. Not only is it a lot of fun and great exercise, it'll certainly give you a different perspective on the issue. I guarantee the first time you try to ride down Friendly at 6:00 on a Friday...

Kehaar,

My opinion is that your post is the most insightful, balanced, and fair post that has yet to enter this discussion.

Regarding left turns in Greensboro, I go out of my way to avoid them in my car, much less on a bike.

BTW, not many people realize this probably, but did you know there are telephone poles in the middle of the sidewalks along portions of Friendly and Market? I never knew until I got a bike. It's funny the things you notice when you get a different perspective!

Greensboro cyclist, please stop whining and get your tiny rears in gear. You want something legal? Pay for it, play for it, vote for it, just do something besides tell the rest of us why you are entitled. I've been waiting 30 years for Greensboro to grow into a city. Its a city now but everybody acts like they still drive tractors. You are not entitled to anything. Grow up and get out of the way if you have a working brain.

Sorry Ms. Thomas, but cyclists are entitled to use the roads of this state. They pay state taxes and bikes are legal to be on the road. Please see Kelley's post from earlier in the thread.

As for the speed of cyclists, in the course of casual conversation a police officer told me that there is a speed limit for how fast a vehicle travels and there is not a limit to how slow it travels. You must treat a cyclists as any other slow moving vehicle like the mopeds and geriatric drivers. When you see your opportunity to safely move past them, do so with courtesy, caution, and co-operation.

The sheer ignorance of Betty Thomas is exactly the problem with Greensboro in general. Selfish stupidity to the point of being dangerous. by her philosophy, if she's moving slow I can use my SUV to knock her off the road because I feel she's moving to slow or is in my way. A bunch of morons like her is exactly why she waited thirty years for "progress" and the tractors to leave town.

The thing I love about this site is the intelligent, reasoned discussion from intelligent, reasonable people. I don't think it gets much better than this.

Well, if it is a limited access highway, when are they going to raise the speed limit to 60 or 65?