Henry.Talk

By Koz

August 15, 2007 9:47 AM | Link to this

Cyclists have the same rights as motorists to share the road. As long as people on bikes follow the traffic laws then the people in cars should treat them the same as if they were in a car too.

Pass only when safe and don’t purposefully pass to close to the bikes because you want to teach them a lesson for riding on the road that you’re supposed to share.(I’ve had this happen a few times, people can be so ignorant sometimes)

By Dee

August 15, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this

What happened to Monroe’s column this week??

By damianq

August 15, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this

I’m absolutely NOT a big fan of more taxes/fees, but I strongly believe bicycles (and scooters/mopeds) that are to be operated on public roadways should be taxed and tagged like any other (non-farm equipment) vehicle. While I doubt the amount of revenue generated would allow for far reaching road improvements—like adding slow vehicle lanes to high traffic roads—it only seems fair that if a car or motorcycle operator is being taxed to use public streets so should bicycle and scooter operators!

By Larry

August 15, 2007 1:14 PM | Link to this

Improvements to Jonesboro Road added bicycle lanes I questioned this stupidity, along with bike lanes in the recently widened Eagles Landing Pkwy. I was told the bike lanes were a requisite addition in order to get state funding for the road work.

They’re not just peddling on the sides of the road

Not just the busy areas where we might expect people to be stupid. On many 2-lane country roads (yes, we still consider Airline, East Lake, Crumbley, etc. to be outside the lunatic zone) bicyclists tour in groups or alone. People in cars are not the smartest or safest drivers, especially on these non-business-district areas. I am waiting for the day when 5 or 6 cyclists are creamed by a kid with more horsepower than brain.

Connie, you ask, “How do you feel about people riding bicycles on public roads? How should the county handle this issue?”

I think it is among the more stupid ideas to come out of the mid-town wanna be’s we have in Henry County. Every time I hear about walking paths, sidewalks and bike paths added to roads - not subdivision streets or intown residential areas - I cringe. If these folks want to live near Midtown or Piedmont Park they should relocate. See what happens to deer and other indigenous life forms when they mix it up with cars and people.

The best policy decision by the County may be outside the realm of sanity. It is to simply apply common sense, horse sense or whatever you choose to call it. The “Thou Shalt Not” for the county commissioners is to listen to wanna be inner-city dwellers who may write campaign checks. They are endangering lives!

By Larry

August 15, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this

Koz, you are correct: people can be so ignorant sometimes. Like peddling along at 2-10 mph in a 50 mph zone…

By David aka HCCynic

August 15, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this

damianq wrote, “I’m absolutely NOT a big fan of more taxes/fees, but I strongly believe bicycles (and scooters/mopeds) that are to be operated on public roadways should be taxed and tagged like any other (non-farm equipment) vehicle. While I doubt the amount of revenue generated would allow…”

damiang, your idea is brilliant and has real potential. In that my day job is in banking, I am well familiar with some of the more creative ways to inflate consumer, or user, fees. As such, and with only the last few minutes of thought, I think i have found a couple of ways to inflate the registration fee for bicycles and scooters to such a point as to keep them off the major arterial roads. Please note, I fully endorse the use of alternative transportation on non-arterial, or non-major, roadways…but, their use on the major thoroughfares (Jonesboro Road, Mill Road, Hwy’s 20, 81, 42, 138, 155, et al) makes my blood boil.

Now as to the registration, or user, fees (remember this is only a first pass, there can be others; in fact, I invite you to add you own thoughts below):

Basic Vehicle Registration (waived if vehicle is used for transportation, or exercise, only WITHIN THE CONFINES of the owners subdivision or housing project): $50.00 / year

Federal, State, & Local, Lost Fuel Tax Recuperation Fee (waived if vehicle is used for transportation, or exercise, only WITHIN THE CONFINES of the owners subdivision or housing project) $50.00 / year or $5.00 per out of the neighborhood ride

User Fee for totally tacky and goofy looking “uniforms” (waived if rider does not own any of that stuff AND the vehicle is used for transportation, or exercise, only WITHIN THE CONFINES of the owners subdivision or housing project) $25.00 / year, and finally,

Traffic Hinderence Excise Tax (waived if vehicle is used for transportation, or exercise, only WITHIN THE CONFINES of the owners subdivision or housing project) $25.00 / year

There you have it, $250.00 per year in registration and user fees, per bicycle or scooter…Come to think of it, $250.00 is higher than my ad valorum taxes, but by time I pay fuel taxes, I guess it comes out even.

Again, please feel free to let me know of any applicable fees I might have missed.

By David aka HCCynic

August 15, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this

(dang computer, I was trying to edit the post)

Here is the balance of the $250.00 (the above totals equal only $150.00)

Enhanced 911 and EMT Services Fee (given that bicycle vs automobile accidents can be expected to generate more severe trauma to the bicyclist, our responders need to be prepared, and the beneficiaries of such care they should expect to pay more) $75.00

PITA Fee (just because I think cyclists clogging major arterial roads are PITA’s) $25.00 . . . less anyone not know what a “PITA” is, it is a Pain in the a$$; hence a “PITA”

By Koz

August 16, 2007 7:43 AM | Link to this

Larry, You’re right, those people that pedal their bikes at 2-10 mph in a 50 mph zone are idiots. Personally I pedal at the speed limit (along with my buddy Lance Armstrong). Smart a$$.

By Koz

August 16, 2007 7:51 AM | Link to this

HCCynic, I’m willing to pay all those fees as long as I don’t have to subsidize increased health insurance prices for those of you that want to be fat and lazy.

Don’t get your keyboard too greasy after you take your hand out of that potato chip bag to type a response.

By HCCynic

August 16, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this

Koz, nice try, but wrong. I am in excess of 6’ 3” tall and about 200 pounds.

Can I run a marathon? No.

Can i compete with professional athletes, at their chosen sport, at their level of play? No.

Can I hike 20 miles in a given day, carrying a full backpack with tent, sleeping bag, food, cook gear, etc? Yep

Can I canoe 15 miles down a slow meandering river in a given day? Yep

Can I…? Yep, that too

My point here is that I am honest in the self assessment of my skills and my state of conditioning…I have no need to name drop some guy from such a corrupt “sport” as professional cycling in an effort to improve my self esteem. I hope I never digress, or become so delusional, as to feel the need to over come my fears of personal inadequacy by associating myself with such a corrupt pastime…

What’s next from you Koz, are you going to tell us you are buddies with Michael Jordan, Pete Rose, or Barry Bonds? If so, save your breath, I am not impressed.

BTW, your idea as to indexing insurance premiums to weight, and or body mass, is very good and I support it without hesitation.

My only question is how do we implement such indexing? I can hear every liberal, universal heathcare proponent, and social appologist (like Hillary), defending every poor, maligned, helpless, lard butt, who makes bad dietary choices with their food stamp dollars, and ends up at Grady with a headache.

Let’s all say it together, “it’s not their fault.”

By Koz

August 16, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this

I’m glad that you are fit and not contributing to rising healthcare costs from a preventable ‘illness’. I don’t knock you for going hiking, why should you knock others for trying to be healthy by riding a bike?

All of those fees you mention were obviously in a joking manner but I think we need to try and promote fitness and not penalize it.

Oh and sorry that you didn’t catch the sarcasm (when I mentioned Lance Armstrong).

By HCCynic

August 16, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this

Koz, you are correct, most all were fees noted, were posted in humor; although, I say “most” because i honestly do not get the “uniform” thing for cyclists, but then again, I do not get the uniform thing for most sports fans; especially those sitting on the couch with their head, or hand, stuffed in a bag of chips, as you correctly noted.

You asked “why should (I) knock others for trying to be healthy by riding a bike?” With all due respect, and I truly hope I did not give you this impression, I fault no one for trying to be healthy by riding a bike. My gripe is the same as that noted by the majority of people responding to Connie’s original question; my aggravation is with those riders clogging the major arterial roads of the County, those riders riding side by side by side impeding the flow of traffic, and those riders who choose to ride in a manner, location, or time, so as to inconvenience the most people…

Honestly, I think that are some parties riding together that choose to meet at a central location (i.e. the shopping center on Jonesboro Road) to benefit all memebers of the group. I also think there are certain riders (or groups of) who make a conscious determination as to how best to muddle up traffic. While I agree in principle that meeting at a convenient location is practical at 7 or 7:30 on a Saturday morning, how practical is it at 12 noon when your are returning from your ride, or 7:00 pm on a week night?

We all know that within any group there is always a very small minority, who by their misbehavior, casts a detracting light on the other participants or members of the group…the vigilante riders I noted above are those members for the biking community. For those of us in the outdoor community, we have those participants that trample the trails, litter the landscape, and harrass or kill the wildlife out of “meanness” (this does not include a hunter hunting for food to feed his family). Unfortunately, these obnoxious “warts” infect all areas of humanity, including our groups and activities.

In closing, I would like to present an honest suggestion for your consideration:

In that we have a MASSIVE, conveniently located, paved facility within our locale known as Atlanta Motor Speedway, what if the County worked out an arrangement with, or AMS implemented individually, a program to allow cyclists to ride about the parking facility and, or, on the track?

If using the facility, the cyclists could certainly log their miles,in an expedited fashion, at whatever speed they choose to peddle, and without a great fear of traffic. Sure there will be user fees involved, but as most of the regulars know, I am a strong proponent of the “pay to play” concept; most every campground, boat ramp, or hiking trail has some form of user fee associated with it, and i quarrell not with paying such fees.

Is it too much to ask the cyclists to do the same?

By Koz

August 16, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this

Trust me I don’t want to mix it up with cars but have to due to lack of usable space.

I don’t know if you’ve heard of Rails to Trails. But basically they turn old, unused RR tracks into trails for bikers, hikers, etc. I emailed the county about this awhile ago because I had a great location in mind. Apparently they don’t want to support something like this that will help our community.

Oh and the location was the old set of tracks that crosses near the fly-in community at the intersection of 155 an Hampton-Locust Grove Rd.

By HCCynic

August 16, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this

I am familiar with Rails to Trails; around here the most “famous” would be the “Silver Comet” running directionally, east-west, from Smyrna towards Alabama. While I have never been on it, I understand it is a very nice pathway for cyclists and walkers alike.

I also understand that some of the abandoned railways up in the northern states have been converted to trails, but without the concrete or asphalt of the Silver Comet. From a hiker’s perspective, that is a much more friendly trail to hike, but, I also accept the fact that these trails serve multiple purposes and user’s groups.

As to your statement, “I emailed the county about this awhile ago because I had a great location in mind. Apparently they don’t want to support something like this that will help our community.” My guess is that they simply have not figured out a way for one of their developer buddies to make a profit on it. Once they do, they will rush it through for approval, and slap it together quick, like mof the new housing units they have approved throughout the County.

Whether in the form of a concrete paved trail, or natural pathway (compacted soil and stone only) trail, I agree it would be a nice addition to the area.

By Larry

August 16, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this

Re: I don’t knock you for going hiking, why should you knock others for trying to be healthy by riding a bike?

Koz, my complaint would also include hikers if they chose to explore nature on a road where vehicle traffic would cause inherent problems.

I know drivers are to give right-of-way to pedestrians. And the same “rule” is applied de-facto for cyclists. At some point it simply fails to make sense to compete for asphalt when the potential death rate stares you in the face.

Traffic congestion is borrendous. It takes me about an hour to escape Henry County in the morning. Adding hikers and cyclists to the packed roads, in my humbe opinion, is begging for tragedy.

By Larry

August 16, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this

Re: I don’t knock you for going hiking, why should you knock others for trying to be healthy by riding a bike?

Koz, my complaint would also include hikers if they chose to explore nature on a road where vehicle traffic would cause inherent problems.

I know drivers are to give right-of-way to pedestrians. And the same “rule” is applied de-facto for cyclists. At some point it simply fails to make sense to compete for asphalt when the potential death rate stares you in the face.

Traffic congestion is borrendous. It takes me about an hour to escape Henry County in the morning. Adding hikers and cyclists to the packed roads, in my humble opinion, is begging for tragedy.

By Jaye

August 17, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this

“That same week, I was traveling toward Jonesboro Road from Mill Road and about 50 cyclists were riding together, taking the whole left side of the road.”

I hope you’re exaggerating, because that is absurd. The single file line concept, we all should have learned in kindergarten. And that’s precisely how bike lanes are designed… In all fairness, though, bike lanes aren’t exactly new to like-suburban areas in this country.

By Nathan Isenhardt

August 17, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this

You know, there are not THAT many cyclists suddenly clogging the roads of this county. If the traffic is getting worse, the solution is to leave earlier or later in the day to get where you’re going, not drive so recklessly that you hit a bicyclist! At least when there is a lane, passing is facillitated. Not a single person in this county is innocent in causing traffic, but to try and blame bikes for a traffic problem caused almost entirely by cars seems absurd. Also, I don’t think it’s technically legal to pass any slow moving vehicle (car, tractor or bike) if there is a double yellow line. Sometimes, you just have to wait it out. The system will never be perfect, but it works great for a vast majority of its users on any given day.

By Mark

August 17, 2007 5:29 PM | Link to this

I’ve seen the bike lanes on Jonesboro Road, and they don’t seem well-designed at all. If I were biking on that road, I’d be terrified, squished in between two lanes of cars, some of whom would inevitably decide to merge across my lane of traffic.

Apparently this needs to be repeated, so I will. Where there’s no bike lane, bicyclists have the same exact right as cars to use lanes of traffic. From an environmental and health standpoint, cyclers are certainly better off than any car owner ever will be. Cars do not own the road, no matter how big.

(Incidentally, Connie, nice to see you found a topic that’ll generate a lot of comments!)

By Tom

August 20, 2007 4:33 PM | Link to this

I belive they should have to buy a TAG if they want to ride there bikes on the roads. I had to buy one for my car to use the roads. There are some out there on there bikes that thanks they own the road and will not get out of your way, if they had to have a tag on there bikes they could help pay for the roads.

Thanks

By HenryRealist

August 21, 2007 7:18 AM | Link to this

Connie, we love ya baby. But we need a Monroe for posts with more meat!

By Southside Beach Bum

August 21, 2007 8:56 AM | Link to this

Koz, my complaint would also include hikers if they chose to explore nature on a road where vehicle traffic would cause inherent problems.

Based on your logic, hikers should be charged impact fees for the drainage and pollution issues caused on heavily traveled trails.

I know drivers are to give right-of-way to pedestrians. And the same “rule” is applied de-facto for cyclists. At some point it simply fails to make sense to compete for asphalt when the potential death rate stares you in the face.

It is not applied “de-facto”, it should be applied as a point of law. If you read the Georgia Uniform Traffic Code, you will note that cyclists are to be treated as any other vehicle traffic. The only place they are prohibited from are limited access roadways.

Improvements to Jonesboro Road added bicycle lanes I questioned this stupidity, along with bike lanes in the recently widened Eagles Landing Pkwy. I was told the bike lanes were a requisite addition in order to get state funding for the road work.

This is not from “mid-town wannabees” as you stated in this post. These are people who choose to exercise in this way. Personally, I can’t jog due to knee and ankle issues from the resulting impact, but I can ride my bike for 20 miles and get great exercise. I should not have to limit my cycling to the roads in my neighborhood to convenience you, anymore than you should have to limit your hiking to the woods behind your house!

By Connie

August 21, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this

HenryRealist, Monroe was hired to write post with more meat. I was hired to be a positive blogger to reach the people that like good mayberry stories.

By Amanda

August 21, 2007 4:20 PM | Link to this

This post doesn’t have meat? Just look at all the comments it has generated. Some people are always looking for something to complain about …