Morning Metro: Cyclist Interviews DPD, Crate & Barrel Leaves Lenox, and Core’s 25th
Decatur Metro | September 20, 2011 | 9:26 am
- Decatur Cyclist Pulled Over By DPD – Takes His Ticket and Then Interviews Him! [Dateline Decatur]
- Crate and Barrel Leaving Lenox Square for Open Air Shopping Center [AJC]
- Kessler Profiles Billy Allin [AJC]
- Core Dance Studio Celebrates 25 Years [ArtsCriticATL]
- Car Break-In on Ridgecrest Road [East Lake Neighborhood]
- Got Your Tickets for DHS’ Sleepy Hollow Musical Yet? [CSD]
- The Top Ten “Team Decatur” Runners [Be Active Decatur]
- 1,000 Peds Injured Annually By Cyclists [Streetsblog]
Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia
Rode my bike yesterday and stopped at all the stop signs. Felt like an idiot with no other cars in sight, but I followed the law. Also, it made me realize that I really don’t want to bike around Decatur anymore. So back in the car I go.
Token, I always appreciate your contributions here on DM and mean this with all due respect, but this kind of “if I can’t have my way I’m gonna take my ball and go home” sentiment seems out of character for you. Obviously, after decades of road design and policy reinforcing the idea that cars are entitled to full ownership of the road, a change in culture to something more complex — where competing needs are acknowledged and meaningful concessions are made towards mutual accommodation — is gonna take some time. Culture shift always does.
If the very people most likely to receive the greatest personal benefit throw in the towel while the whole thing’s in its infancy, how do you expect the effort to ever get anywhere?
If the town most likely to promote bike riding is the most hostile to traffic violations by cyclists, how do you expect the effort to get anywhere?
I’ve resisted getting into this topic before, because a lot of people have hardened into anti-cyclists – and I’ve got my issues with the group as well.
But can some of us try to be “moderates” instead of hardcore partisans on this? Can we agree that what’s legal and what’s reasonable are sometimes two different things? Can we understand that there is a difference between a 20 pound bike and a 4,000 pound motor vehicle? Imposing a one-size-fits-all traffic code, developed for cars, on bikes to me seems angry rather than rational.
I nominate this for best comment of the year.
How do I expect it to get anywhere? It’s not complicated. It’s clear from the Transportation Plan, recent actions and plenty of voiced opinions from our commission that we have the political will to become increasingly more bike-friendly. With political will can come meaningful changes to infrastructure, which we’re doing, but also meaningful changes at the policy and enforcement level. Which resurrects my original question for Token: Why would Decatur pursue such changes if their most likely advocates — cyclists — throw in the towel instead?
Culture shift is hard. Like all things political, it depends on how badly people want it.
No offense taken, Scott. You make a valid argument about changing the mindset. To be honest, i was exaggerating; I’m not really going to ditch the bike.
RebeccaB had a good point – starting off from 0 on a hill is a pain, so I need to get in better shape. But the real issue for me is that I have become so paranoid! I found myself constantly looking over my shoulder, expecting to see Officer Lindsey chasing me down with all lights flashing and a maniacal grin on his face (OK, maybe not the grin). But the feeling was real. One of the reasons I love my bike is the feeling of freedom. And the expectation that I would be pulled over while riding my bike kind of ruined that feeling.
I know that following the laws would make that feeling go away, but it’s hard to change a lifetime habit of slowing down at a stop sign, verifying all is clear, and moving on.
“…a lifetime habit…”
One of the many issues for me is that it seems that for the first time in their lives, the manner of riding a bike can be “illegal” …
In my experience and to my knowledge, Decatur is the first municipality where I have lived that cyclists are being ticketed. While driving is a licensed privilege with a bona fide exam or two, bicycling isn’t – - but obviously rules of the road do apply. Notices at city limits signs might be a way to make cyclists aware that failure to follow rules could result in a ticket. It seems fair to make folks more aware than issuing a $$ citation.
Welcome to Decatur … walking, kids, restaurants, cyclists …
Do you also feel like an idiot when you are in your car, stopped at a stop sign, with no other cars around? I’m failing to see the difference, or understand the frustration.
“I’m failing to see the difference, or understand the frustration.”
Putting aside the legal issues for a moment, it is actually quite different in every way.
Try stopping at a stop sign halfway up a hill, then proceeding forward on a bike. You’re actually physically propelling yourself up it with zero momentum. It’s a different experience than just putting your foot on the gas pedal in every way.
I understand the physical differences between being in a car and on a bike (and yes, it would be very difficult to propel uphill with zero momentum). But from a safety standpoint, isn’t it really dangerous to proceed through the intersection without stopping? I can’t understand why anyone would do it – especially on a bike.
Dangerous- So yes, and no. It depends on the actual intersection. The cyclists that have been ticketed are not at Commerce and Clairemont or places that I would call “death traps” even in a car. But neighborhoods where there is minimal traffic flow. If your view is not impeded and you’re the only one there, I think most would probably go for it. I have a hard time believing that most in cars even come to a full hard stop in places like this. They probably slow, take a glance, and keep moving. That’s been my personal observation anyhow.
Ask yourself how many times you come to a dead stop before proceeding to cross the street when on foot, specifically when it is not a major intersection. More often you will find that you do your looking left and right as you approach the intersection, and if all is clear you cross the street all while not breaking your stride. The bicyclist does similar, slowing down sufficiently to make a necessary stop if needed.
Really? Your argument is that it is harder to get started on a bicycle! That is hardly persuasive. I mentioned this before, but I don’t like police officers giving silly tickets on violations that really didn’t put anyone is danger, and if you are advocating not giving out these tickets to both cyclists AND cars, then I am on board. If you want a distinction between the two, you have lost me. But not really….because I couldn’t care less if cyclists never get ticketed BUT there is only so much “cyclist have equal rights” and “share to road” rhetoric I can stomach when the same cyclists only want it one way.
I don’t believe I said that was my all encompassing argument for anything actually. I was merely attempting to explain the differences. But thanks for the exaggerated play on my words.
As far as your other swipes, TeeRuss had a few observations that are worth repeating:
“Can we agree that what’s legal and what’s reasonable are sometimes two different things? Can we understand that there is a difference between a 20 pound bike and a 4,000 pound motor vehicle?”
Walrus you are the first to say, “I’m not trying to start anything,” but you know you are an antagonist simply for arguments sake a fair amount of the time, and just need to own it.
I was merely attempting to explain the differences. But thanks for the exaggerated play on my words.
As far as your other swipes,
_____________________
I will admit that I do enjoy your defensiveness! I’m not sure why you take these conversations so personally. As for the statement TeeRuss made, I think that if both vehicles are being safe, respectively, then don’t ticket either one…..or ticket both.
Believe me, I like to debate, but I don’t debate just for the sake of it. Believe it or not, I actually believe the things I say!
I know you do. How sad.
Wow. That was a bit unnecessary, don’t you think. Yes, it is real sad to think that everyone should be treated equally….
@Walrus
I’m willing to bet that a cyclist is almost always more aware of his or her surroundings, especially at lights than a car. Your sense of sound is especially less impeded by the running engine of a car, the windows that block out noise, car stereos, etc.
Not to mention that bikes are often insufficiently heavy to trip the sensor at certain traffic lights. Therefore, I have to bike over to the crosswalk, hit cross and then get back into a lane?
Comparing bikes to cars is apples to oranges. If you want to give a bike a ticket for going through a deserted red light or rolling through a deserted 4-way stop then you’d better start ticketing drivers that stop in cross walks or come to rolling stops as well.
If you want to give a bike a ticket for going through a deserted red light or rolling through a deserted 4-way stop then you’d better start ticketing drivers that stop in cross walks or come to rolling stops as well.
_________________
Completely agree. I think you treat them all the same, whether it is not ticketing the violation or ticketing the violation.
Um, I am proof that they DO ticket rolling stops. I am still waiting for a definition of a kosher stop–does one’s car have to rock back and then come to a complete rest?
And my kids yell at me all the time about slowing down at pedestrian crossings when no one is at the crossing. I cannot help it–either I have the slow down reflexes or I don’t. If I’m driving a noisy, smelly, dirty minivan of kids, I have to have certain driving reflexes to counteract the sensory overload.
That cycling accident study is truly shocking. It turns out that Hispanics are over-represented as victims of cycling/pedestrian accidents. As Officer Lindsey points out, we know that cyclists are reckless scofflaws bent on imposing painful memories (and paint scratches) on drivers. But now we know the secret truth: cyclists are also racists, hell bent on sending Hispanics to hospitals for out-patient treatment for minor injuries.
I’m waiting for this motorcycle cop to pull over my kids for doing illegal u-turns on the street in front of my house – and then cite them for failing to provide proper identification. Rules are rules, after all.
It seems you finally have your mind right, Tee Russ. If you don’t toe the line ’round here, you’ll have to get your dirt outta Boss King’s ditch. Just don’t put it in my yard. And always respect my authoritah!
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/150368/you-will-respect-my-authoritah
Oh, this whole bike vs. car (and now vs. Peds) thing is sooooo ON! AGAIN! Maybe I’ll start traveling by zeppelin.
p.s. I had to look up how to spell “zeppelin.” When I got back on to type it in, I had forgotten, so I had to go back. And then I forgot again. So from now on I’m sticking with “balloon.”
THAT is funny.
Never a fan of misty mountain hop?
Used to be, but then the levee broke and I tore my Achilles last stand at the gallows pole
dazed and confused ’til the juice ran down the immigrant going in through the out door, and up the stairway in the evening.
oh boy…. where to start… first, i’d really love to know what was in the policeman’s mind when he ticketed the cyclist. Considering how we drive around Atlanta and what actions NEVER get ticketed… it’s puzzling. I wonder how everyone would handle less traffic signs… here’s one article about an approach to traffic safety in Holland (where there are more than a few bikes)
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.12/traffic.html
What’s in the officer’s mind? “DANG!!!! It’s ANOTHER cyclist running the stop sign ( red light) !!! I KNOW word’s out that Decatur’s enforcing the laws!!! What’s the frickin’ DEAL?!?… Oh well, let the armchair bashing begin…”
(Steven- Thanks for this link! Really interesting article! :0)
Interesting article indeed.
Question. Does everyone who is biking always have their wallet and ID on them? What happens if you get “pulled over” and don’t have your ID on you do you just give them your name and they write you the absurdly high priced ticket?
Will they take points of your license?
They will ask for any id, and failing that, you will give your information and they will call it in to verify that there is such a person (probably using the license registry).
There are no points that are attached to your drivers license. However, (and this is important), the various clerks that will process your ticket can mistakenly apply points to your license because they process far more car than bike tickets. Therefore, you really need to look at each piece of paperwork to make sure that it accurately reflects ‘bicycle’ as the vehicle.
What’s in his mind? “The increase of cyclists in Decatur and the illogical uniformity of all traffic laws has provided me with yet another method of cementing my status on the force as top revenue collector.”
Sorry, but it’s true. There is room in these situations to be issued “official warnings.” They can be input into the same database for traffic citations, and they can be printed just like citations can.
What’s to prevent this officer from issuing a load of warnings in the name of protecting and serving, then issuing citations to any repeat offenders?
Nothing.
I’m getting a little sick of hearing people bash Officer Lindsey on this blog. And I say this as someone who was recently pulled over by him and as someone who’s generally not particularly quick to defend the police.
Officer Lindsey was professional, courteous and quick when he wrote me a ticket. This is the sort of attitude I appreciate because it is so rare in police officers.
I understand that it can be shocking to get a $212 fine. Chances are good, however, that Officer Lindsey did not wake up one morning and think, “I’m gonna get EVERYONE. EVERYONE!” and then commence laughing maniacally. The man is doing his job. Odds are good it’s the higher ups who have requested that he write more tickets to, yes, generate revenue.
I’ve only heard from people who received tickets for things they actually did that actually could be dangerous– including someone who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt with their children in the car. Discussions of bad behavior often lead to statements akin to, “You do the crime, you do the time.” It seems this approach is abandoned, however, when it affects one personally. It’s a couple hundred dollars, guys, not the end of the world. You are not being oppressed because an officer chose to enforce the law that you broke.
Just to telegraph my intentions, today at about 4:45pm, in the absence of cars at the intersection, I plan on rolling through that intersection on my bike, without coming to a complete halt.
While there are often cars at Oakview and McD, if there are not, then I will also go through that intersection without stopping about 20 seconds later.
Approximately 2 minutes later, I will go though the stop sign at Bucher and Avery, and then 20 seconds later, Avery and Inman.
When I get home, I will then tear the label off my mattress, insert a qtip in my ear canal, and pet my cat in the tail to head direction.
` and pet my cat
T.M.I.
You’re a bad, bad boy! Here’s to you surviving the intersection and the cat! :0)
…intersectionS!!!
You mean you still have the labels on your mattresses?? Dude, how can you be a true subversive if you didn’t tear them off the second you got them home from the store???
Seems like a warning would’ve been a bit more fair in this case. Residential street. No cars. Look both ways. Glide through. Ticketable offense? Of course. Necessary? Not really. Aren’t there more pressing matters than ticketing cyclists?
That said, rules are rules and the officer was doing his job. Not much you can argue with there, but I do think a warning would’ve been more appropriate.
In general, though, cyclists get a bad rap for a few bad apples. Not every cyclist runs a light or stop sign, but those who do ruin it for those of us who don’t. I for one can’t stand it when a fellow cyclist weaves through cars at a stop light or in traffic. It really annoys the you know what out of me.
But it goes both ways. Drivers don’t understand how vulnerable cyclists are and think it’s ok to buzz by us with less than three feet of clearance. It’s not. It’s scary as hell. All it takes one quick move by the car or the cyclist and you’ve got a situation. What’s worse is the horn-blowers. Horns are loud enough when you’re sitting in a vehicle encased by windows and steel. Guess what it sounds like when you’re on a bike? It sounds like a train. That’s a good way to cause an accident.
Basically, it boils down to this: Obey the laws and be considerate of others, whether you’re on four wheels or two.
Very thoughtful post Bulldog. And it didn’t even come across as grumpy!!
I wish I could delete my post below, because you sir, said this way better than me.
+1 !
Regardless of what anyone thinks, the law is the law and unfortunately we ALL need to follow them or deal with the consequences. That means if you’re on a bike, car, boat, train, segway, skateboard, or motorized big wheel (man i wish this was real).. you need to FOLLOW the rules/laws.
It’s THAT simple.
Whether on a bike or in a car, I do stop at all stop signs and red lights. Even those going uphill.
That’s only because the way I was raised, I probably would break out in hives if I broke a law.
But after years of observation of cyclists as a cyclist, I refuse to condemn many riders who roll through stop signs or even redlights. I have witnessed too many instances where breaking this rule was absolutely the safer choice under those particular circumstances. Many of the scariest moments in my cycling travels occurred BECAUSE I stopped at a stop sign or red light.
Especially if one uses clip-on pedals. That’s the main reason I go through intersections illegally as a cyclist–and usually I do not–because I cannot get my darn foot out of the pedal and me and my bike will fall over as one piece if I do not keep moving.
Good point. Let’s not let clipless pedals escape our ire too. I understand why people go clipless, but don’t really understand their proliferation in an urban setting. Prior to clipless, I bet we saw more stopping at stop signs around the country because it was easier. Now someone will say that it’s just as easy once you get used to them to get out and in, but I don’t see it happening day in and day out on the streets.
I’ve been using clipless for two decades. Getting out of them is a breeze for me. Twist the heel out, and I’m out. In find it more difficult to clip back in. But most people do have an adjustment period getting used to the things.
I have been telling my partner in crime to ditch them for a while. 99% of the time they work as planned. But when they don’t… He’s never eaten pavement, but come so incredibly close. This is horrible, but when everyone is safe, I usually hysterically laugh about it watching him flail around off balance totally spazzing out trying to catch himself. Because I’m caring and supportive like that.
The whole thing only lasts a fraction of a second, but it’s the laugh that keeps on giving!
Disclosure: My left wrist still cramps up when it rains because of a fall I took when learning the clipless pedals.
Yikes, sorry to hear that. I have never really understood the allure of them for just doing your thing around the city, but maybe some use them on for longer rides and once they’re on… There really aren’t any serious hills or speed factors that you need that advantage on locally. It’s just a matter of personal preference like everything else you change out on a bike I guess. And I do honestly wish he would ditch them.
Shimano (and maybe others) makes a pedal that has both — clip on one side and no clip on the other. They are great, I have had them for years now. Not cheap (over $100) but worth it IMO.
My commuter is set up that way. I snap in for the 10 mile ride to work, but I love using the other side to run to the store.
Is this for step-in clipless pedals, or the basket kind?
Here you go. Not as expensive as Shimano’s, but they work fine for me:
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1033468_-1_1589016_1586500_400936
These are what I have (though I got them at Bike South). I am sure DTR’s model works just fine as well.
http://www.rei.com/product/764688/shimano-a530-spd-sport-road-pedals
Wow, thanks DEM and DTR. Another example of how my life has been improved by reading and posting on DM! It’s been years since I’ve had the discretionary time and money to be keeping up on cycling equipment!
I broke my wrist fumbling to get a water bottle back in its cage.
It was probably the silliest looking slow motion fall ever.
But I still carry water bottles on the bike.
I know, I know. Hey, at least I’m being honest!
Fun thread! I’m glad I’m not the only one who has humiliated themself this way. I’m realizing that I probably meant clipless or step-in pedals–the ones with the special pedals, not the basket clips. Even though clipless are supposed to be easy to exist with just a sharp foot twist, I occasionally forget to make the motion or the adjustment slips or my ankle is too flexible. I can attest to the importance of a high quality bike seat for your baby/toddler plus helmet–the one time that we all three fell as a unit–me, my bike, and my baby, the baby was was the only one laughing!
The worst is when a cleat gets loose and you must remove your foot from your shoe in order to stop without crashing.
Both sides of this debate have valid points. Every police department enforces the law selectively. Otherwise, no one in Decatur would escape getting at least several tickets a month.
Saying “the law is the law” may be true, but most of us (police included) use a certain amount of common sense on which laws to abide. So where does that put us? I think the police department needs to inform decatur citizens a bit better about what it’s outlook is on bicycles. Why not
start giving warnings to bicyclists in these situations. Repeat offenders could move to getting tickets, but it must have been quite a surprise to someone riding their bike in their neighborhood to get pulled over. Life is lived in the gray zone.
Great write up on Billy Allin!
The laws that guide the roads are designed to essentially protect cars from each other and pedestrians from cars. Applying them strictly to bikes is nonsense, and no “follow the rules” mentality is going to improve on that. Idaho and several municipalities have recognized this and have passed legislation to have bikes yield at stops and stop and safely proceed at red lights. When I’m on my bike, I’ll happily stop at intersections with traffic or pedestrians, but forcing me to stop at a clear intersection in order to satisfy a law designed for a car is wrong. Reverse the concept: Why not have all cars stick to the shoulder except to pass? Have cars with student drivers restrict their driving to the sidewalks? The city commission could very easily instruct Public Safety to de-emphasize bike enforcement, and I hope they will.
Well said.
Thanks for bringing that up. Law based on recognizing that bicycles and cars are different animals.
Worth a read for cyclists and non-cyclists as well.
http://www.bicyclelaw.com/articles/a.cfm/legally-speaking-stop-as-yield1
Yesterday, 5:45 PM, waiting for the light at college and Rocky Ford (under the MARTA Tracks) when a bicyclist in full racing gear zooms past the line of cars, briefly looks both ways then zooms through the red light.
Last Thursday, pulling out of my driveway at dusk, bicyclist also fully outfitted and without a headlight zooms down the hill at about 40 mph – I almost creamed him.
When I think of Decatur as being cyclist friendly, I think of residents and families out for some exercise and fresh air, choosing to safely ride to the Yogurt Tap instead of driving there. I could give 2 [edited] about whether or not Decatur is a good for pelotons of pro/am cyclists training for their next big race.
I would be very happy if Decatur got the reputation for ticketing cyclists and the outcome was fewer non-resident cyclists cutting through the city on their training days.
MAJOR props for using “pelotons” in a sentence! (and in correct context, to boot)!!
this is so very silly. Should I quote all of the automobile traffic infractions I witnessed on my last ride?
Also, I think using curse words on his blog is ridiculous.
One thing that bugs me about this (apart from the “I once saw someone on bike do something stupid so …”) is that to a large extent, the cost of being stupid on a bike is going to be absorbed largely by the cyclist (probably in a very painful way).
The cost of doing something stupid in a car is often absorbed by the people/cars around the stupid person. There is a natural asymmetry. Sure, you could cream a cyclist and have nightmares about it, but I’ll still argue that the cyclist didn’t evade paying for his/her stupidity.
If you are upset because of a stupid cyclist that you saw, perhaps you can find comfort in knowing that he won’t stay lucky forever, rather than being comforted by other cyclists who weren’t acting stupid, paying absurd fines for technical infractions.
The Stone Mountain trails runs through the city. I guess we should put up a sign on the trail just west of the East Lake MARTA sation that says “cyclists, just stay the heck out.”
Or how about a sign that says “Welcome to Decatur bikers! Please stay on the bike path and don’s disobey traffic laws or you will be ticketed”
This is like me inviting you to my house for dinner, then saying “welcome to my home! Sit only where told to sit, eat what I serve and don’t complain, and if you break anything or spill a drink I will want immediate compensation for it.” I’m sure you would feel very welcome indeed.
Can’t seem to find the fine schedule for traffic infractions on the Decatur website, but I seem to remember the fine for rolling through a stop sign at 3mph on a bike is more than driving 60mph down a residential street in a car.
I think one can make a straight-forward argument that targeting cyclists for minor traffic infractions is a grossly inefficient allocation of limited police resources toward increasing public safety. But it is lucrative!
I also completely comprehend the, “rules are rules’ viewpoint, so if someone wants to call the DPD non-emergency number to report a kids pick-up football game (jaywalking), they are perfectly entitled to do so.
The schedule of fines is posted at this address: https://www.ncourt.com/ncourtuniversal/Juris/GA/GADecaturCi/CITATION/info2.html
I can tell you that I was ticketed for doing something like 33 in the school zone on W. Howard and my fine was in the low 100′s, which is absurdly low compared to the $212 tickets issued to cyclists. Again, it almost seems as if the motorcycle officer is just out to raise revenue. Nah, couldn’t be.
Is it okay to comment about any of the 6 non-cycle related hot topics in this thread?
Please do.
Sharron, of course you can comment on other stories. But you have to work in some insult about cyclists, drivers, or pedestrians. Let me help:
“Too bad I can’t get hit by a car while riding my bike to the Lenox Crate and Barrel anymore.”
or
“Congrats to Core Dance on 25 years. Now we can all use our Tango lessons to stylishly spin out of the way of the cyclcists that are going insane with their newly granted freedoms by way of the new bike lanes and sharrows”
+1
RE: Crate and Barrel
I have a wonderful leather sectional sofa from C & B. The kickers that caught my eye were a double chaise and the caramel color. Was WAY overpriced when love happened but soon it was on sale. I purchased about 3 months before I decided that my return to OTP was an unhappy failure. House-hunting in Oakhurst was contingent on my new sofa! I am happy resident of 3 years in 1400+/- sq ft WITH my beautiful, comfortable Crate & Barrel leather sectional.
Flawed logic: Cop is ticketing cyclists for rolling through stop signs because it’s the LAW for “vehicles” to stop at stop signs. Cop did not ticket my husband recently, just gave him a warning, for rolling through a stop sign on a bike. Why? Our only guess is because 12-year old daughter was with him, on her…wait a minute–”vehicle.” How is a 12-year old operating a vehicle? Why do adults get tickets for rolling through stop signs on a bike but children do not? How can we selectively enforce a law that technically cannot apply in all situations? Should children ride bikes on the sidewalk until they are 16 and old enough to have a license?
I’m interested in finding out more about how other bike-friendly cities have handled this problem.
And while we’re ticketing cyclists for rolling through stop signs, can we please ticket cars for not allowing 3 feet when passing bikes? Having a car whoosh past you at 30 mph so close their mirror almost hits you is breathtakingly dangerous.
It’s actually not legal to ride bicycles on the sidewalk, and many studies will tell you it’s not safer for bikes or pedestrians.
It is legal for children to ride on sidewalks but not adults.
You are correct; I apologize for my mistake. But with cars backing out of driveways not expecting to see a bike coming down the sidewalk, I’m thinking biking on the sidewalk isn’t a great idea.
Police officers have a lot of discretion regarding traffic enforcement.
Your husband got a nice break.
Yes, your daughter was operating a vehicle.
No one in Decatur is permitted to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk per O.C.G.A. § 40-6-144
Even children.
No Decatur ordinance authorizes sidewalk riding and if there was one it could only allow persons up to age 12 to do so.
Decatur code 98-14 kind of implies that sidewalk riding is allowed but does not explicitly permit it.
(they might want to fix that)
Active Living’s Car Free Day post says that kids 12 and under can ride on the sidewalks (no ordinance mentioned):
http://beactivedecatur.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/bike-safety-tips-for-car-free-day/
Your citation doesn’t seem to meet the requirement of a resolution or ordinance.
The law is pretty clear.
“…Except as provided by resolution or ordinance of a local government for sidewalks within the jurisdiction of such local government authorizing the operation of bicycles on sidewalks by persons 12 years of age or younger, no person shall drive any vehicle upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area except upon a permanent or duly authorized driveway.”
Wow — I had always thought it was legal for kids to ride on a sidewalk. My son was able to ride a 2 wheel bike when he was only 2, and he rode on the sidewalk when we biked about town. It would have been crazy to put him on the road at that age and I would never have done it even if ordered to by the police. If the law requires little kids to ride on the road, then it is an enormously stupid law.
Decatur is at least empowered to allow children 12 and under to ride on sidewalks and I think we should ask our commission to enact such an ordinace if one doesn’t exist (and I can’t find one).
With all the “it is the law” talk going on, can anyone explain how a motor vehicle can legally overtake a bicycle in the city? With sharrows and “three feet” safe distances, and that almost all the streets are marked double yellow, I can’t see how a motor vehicle wouldn’t cross the line. As far as I can tell, Georgia Code 40-6-46 seems specific.
I think you are right.
I can’t find an exception that allows a car to cross a double yellow when passing a bike with three feet clearance. I must admit I thought it was legal.
A couple of pedestrian related ones…
No pedestrians on roadway when sidewalk is present.
Georgia Code 40-6-96
With the amount of sidewalks that we have, I shouldn’t ever see a jogger in the road.
Here are the jaywalking and walk signal laws, FYI
Georgia Code 40-6-92
Georgia Code 40-6-22