Farmers ask for ordinance against bicycling on roads
:( :( :( The animosity of this area against the cyclists is huge. Is there any way to difuse it?
http://poseycountynews.com/news/02.htm
The Posey County Commissioners met last week to handle several items of business, but focus seemed to turn to the safety of the county’s roads.
Carl Schmitz approached the commissioners to talk about the problem of bicycling on the county roads, especially during planting and harvesting seasons. He cited specific problems on St. Philip and Stierley Roads.
He told the board that he is a farmer and his truck driver was recently verbally accosted because of corn cobs being on the road from the harvest.
He said he is worried about the riders safety from the debris in the roads but also because they do not follow traffic laws while riding. He said it is hard to stop heavy loads quickly when these riders dart out in front of the tractors or trucks pulling equipment or hauling loads.
The commissioners said they have received numerous calls on this matter.
Sheriff Jim Folz said that bicyclists are supposed to follow the same rules as vehicles, but they seldom do.
Schmitz asked the commissioners to look into an ordinance to control the riding on these roads for the safety of the riders and the farmers.
Bikers and rules of the road
I spent much of my life in Minneapolis which is very nice for the biker: bike paths and wide roads with shoulders practically everywhere.
Now I live in York County, Virginia and it pretty much sucks. All the towns and cities around here are designed for motorists - not pedestrians or cycists. Narrow roads, no shoulders to speak of, very few sidewalks and only on the main drag, ...buses run once an hour, so if you don't have a car you're SOL...
Having said that, I live in a large residential area with lots of kids who consistently bike down the wrong side of the road, don't wear helmets, wear dark clothing when biking at night, etc. And you can't point out to them what they're doing wrong because you're 30 years older than they are and they pay no attention...
But the real loons are a handful of skateboarding teens who seem to like to play chicken in the middle of the road with oncoming cars...that's gonna end in tears one of these days, I'm sure...