| I think I've been pretty clear on my opinion of
bicycle riders on county roads. It's just short of insanity that these
folks would endanger their own lives and create so many problems for
drivers just to ride their bikes on public streets.
If you haven't seen it yet, last week there was a bicycle
rider that was run over down in Williamson County. Below is a link to
the video.
Rider Hit By SUV
If you watch the video you will notice the bike rider
was riding right in the middle of the road. A two lane, double yellow
line road. State law requires that bicyclist must stay as close to the
side of the road as possible. Notice his partner with the helmet cam was
far to the right and didn't get run over.
Fortunately, in this instance, the bicyclist wasn't
seriously injured. But this kind of accident is totally unnecessary and
easily preventable. If you are suffering from a mental defect that tells
you it's a good idea to ride a bicycle on narrow, back roads then maybe
you should watch this video several times and ask yourself, Is it really
worth the risk?
TCA- 55-8-175. Riding on roadways and bicycle paths
-- Penalty.
(a) (1) Any person operating a
bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of
traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then
existing shall ride as close as practicable to the
right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except under any of
the following situations:
(A) When overtaking and passing another vehicle
proceeding in the same direction;
(B) When preparing for a left turn at an
intersection or into a private road or driveway; or
(C) When reasonably necessary to avoid
conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving
objects, parked or moving vehicles, pedestrians, animals,
surface hazards, or substandard width lanes that make it
unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge. For
purposes of this section, "substandard width lane" means a
lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to
travel safely side by side within the lane.
(2) This subsection (a) does not apply to a
certified police cyclist engaged in the lawful performance
of duty relating to traffic control.
(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.
(2) Subdivision (b)(1) does not apply to a
certified police cyclist engaged in the lawful performance
of duty relating to traffic control or in pursuit of an
actual or suspected violator of the law.
(c) (1) This subsection (c) shall be known
and may be cited as the "Jeff Roth and Brian Brown Bicycle
Protection Act of 2007."
(2) The operator of a motor vehicle, when
overtaking and passing a bicycle proceeding in the same
direction on the roadway, shall leave a safe distance
between the motor vehicle and the bicycle of not less than
three feet (3') and shall maintain the clearance until
safely past the overtaken bicycle.
(d) A violation of this section is a Class C
misdemeanor. TCA 55-8-172. Traffic laws apply to
persons riding bicycles -- Penalty.
(a) Every person riding a bicycle upon a
roadway is granted all of the rights and is subject to all
of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this
chapter and chapter 10, parts 1-5 of this title, except as
to special regulations in §§ 55-8-171 -- 55-8-177, and
except as to those provisions of this chapter and chapter
10, parts 1-5 of this title that by their nature can have no
application.
(b) A violation of subsection (a) is a Class C
misdemeanor. |
Driver charged after cyclist hit in Tennessee (On
camera)
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WKRN) - According to the National
Park Service, 58-year-old Marshall Grant Neely III was booked into the
Williamson County Detention Center on Saturday night.
He was charged with reckless endangerment, leaving the
scene of an accident, failure to immediately notify of an accident, and
failure to render aid. He could also face federal charges.
Greg Goodman provided video of the incident.
Goodman said he recorded the video on his GoPro as he
rode a bicycle alongside his friend Tyler Noe around 11 a.m. Saturday.
There are a number of signs posted that say bikers may
use the full lane. But that did not stop the accident from happening.
In the video you can see a white truck passing the
bikers giving them plenty of room… a few seconds later, a black SUV hit
Noe, throwing him to the ground. The driver never stopped, even though
the video clearly shows he hit the cyclist.
Noe was treated at a hospital. He is now recovering at
home after suffering cuts and bruises.
The National Park Service has safety guidelines for
bicyclists on the Natchez Trace Parkway online. They are supposed to
follow the same rules of the road as motorists, riding single file on
the right.
The guidelines also say, "The Natchez Trace Parkway
welcomes millions of visitors every year. As a designated bicycle route,
thousands of bicyclists travel the Parkway and bike riders and motorists
have a responsibility to share the road." |
