Spring Pests

A touch of spring in the air, and you know what that means, bees, flies and mosquitoes start coming out. But there is a far worse pest emerging in Loudon County, idiot bicycle riders.

Just like clockwork, here comes all those West Knox riders invading every narrow, back road in the county. Apparently, there is no way to stop the invasion. Back in October of 2018, commission even passed a resolution begging Sheriff Tim Guider to take action to turn back the invasion, just simply enforce current law, "riders shall not impede traffic." Apparently our resolution fell on deaf ears, they're back and worse than ever.

In my opinion, they're as bad as any Virus.

If we don't do something about this problem, eventually we're not even going to be able to drive the roads on the upper end of the county.

The 2022 sheriff's election is already underway. This might be a good topic to ask the candidates. What if anything do you plan to do about all these bicycle riders? Do you intend to enforce the laws, already in place, to address the bicycle problem?

Below is the resolution county commission passed back in 2018.

Where as, Loudon County is one of the greatest places to live with an unequaled, high quality of life, and:
 
Where as, the Loudon County Commission is always interested in working to keep Loudon County a great place to live, and:
 
 Where as, the invasion of bicycle riders, mostly from outside Loudon County, is causing chaos, mayhem and considerable traffic problems on Loudon County roads, endangering both the bicycle riders and motor vehicle occupants with blatant disregard of traffic laws and regulations such as running stop signs and red lights, giving no turn signals and worst of all, impeding the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, and:
 
Where as, current state law, TCA 55-8-175, clearly lays out rules of the road for bicycle riders and TCA 55-8-172 clearly states that Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles and any violation of this law is a Class C misdemeanor, and:
 
Now therefore be it resolved, the Loudon County Commission suggests, requests, supports and pleads for Loudon County Sheriff, Tim Guider, to instruct his deputies to immediately begin enforcing existing state laws pertaining to bicycle riders on Loudon County roadways and the writing of citations to the bicycle riders who violate these laws especially TCA-55-8-175(b)(1) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two (2) abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Persons riding two (2) abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane. The definition of impede being; "to delay or prevent (someone or something) by obstructing them; To hinder" and bicycle riders shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway with few exceptions.
 
Our hope is that enforcement of existing state laws will discourage bicycle riders from riding their bicycles on Loudon County roads that are far too narrow, winding and dangerous and will improve the safety and welfare of the traveling public on Loudon County roadways.