Farmers ask for ordinance against bicycling on roads

[silver]

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.

[Flybye]

Wow, that is a mixed bag of yuck.

I don't ride the country roads during harvest around here intentionally. We live in the Potato Capital of Idaho. It really is not worth it to me to risk riding during those two or three weeks when the big farm trucks are doing their business. We have spuds on the road and dirt from the fields, as the spuds are dug out of the ground and it gets very muddy and dries in huge clod like clumps.

I see the farmers point of view on this - it really is a safety issue. They aren't trying to flex their farmer muscle. Those trucks carry LOTS of weight. We have had trucks loaded too full tip over when rounding corners. I can't imagine stopping quickly at all. Especially in light of the fact that the farm trucks aren't maintained all that well. They just need to run for one harvest and lots of times they are fixed with the bare bones to get the farmers through the seasons. Maintenance is just one more thing that eats into their profits, and running a farm is very costly.

I have worked several harvests personally, and I wouldn't be able to stop a truck for a cyclist or maneuver well between the cyclist and oncoming traffic on a narrow country type road. The slightest movement in the steering of the truck sends the load rocking a bit.

I don't know how things work around there, but our harvest is so busy that they shut school down for two weeks so that the farmers can have the kids for extra help.

Nothing freaks me out more than a newly licensed kid driving a huge truck full of potatoes on a little sleep while texting a buddy and driving next to ME on my bike

I am surprised that the bike clubs in the area don't promote this safety idea themselves.

I'd be willing to bet that they have cyclists best interest in mind if they take the time out of a super busy harvest day (12 + hours of hard manual labor) to go to the city with this request.

My $ .02

[Zen]

I think your best be is to first write a letter to the commissioners and second, to appear at a meeting.

[Mr. SR500]

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.

I would ask how many cyclists have been cited and how many actual calls were made and by whom? Sounds like someone already has decided, but changing a law without accurate information seems like very poor governing.

[onimity]

I would ask how many cyclists have been cited and how many actual calls were made and by whom? Sounds like someone already has decided, but changing a law without accurate information seems like very poor governing.

Exactly. It sounds like the cyclists must be getting a heck of a lot of tickets from the sheriff's statement, but am I the only one that doubts that that's the case? Personally I think that cyclists that break the law should be ticketed just like other vehicles.

Protecting the safety of individuals is so often used as a reason for taking away the rights and privileges of a group. Frankly, I just think they are annoyed as much as anything by the presence of cyclists on their road. It's the same old story, different tune. And ironic, I think, because how many people complain that tractors and slow-moving farm vehicles ought to stay off of the road. How many of us would like to have roads free of motorized traffic? How many cars would like no bikes or tractors? But guess what, we all have to share the roads.

I'd sure be calling those commissioners to share my side of the issue, and start attending those meetings!

Anne

[onimity]

P.S., ok, now that I've had my rant... as far as defusing the situation, what works for me in talking to motorists that think cyclists should stay off the roads is first of all to do it in person, to explain my side of the situation while trying to understand the other viewpoint. It's a lot easier to get mad at a whole group 'the lycra army' (as the term is around here) because of the bad behavior of a few (i.e., the guy that yelled at the farmer) than it is to maintain that image when talking to real, reasonable people.

First off, attend the meetings. Speak your case firmly but politely. Be friendly. Don't wear bike clothes. Encourage the police to ticket anyone breaking the law during this time period especially. Encourage all sides to know what the law is and how it applies to all vehicles. Encourage other cyclists to be especially safe/visible. Encourage the county (or farmers) to clean up the roadside debris.

Anne

[silver]

I have talked to the county auditor (seems to be the one who keeps the minutes and schedules speakers)

the president of the county commissioners and the Chief Deputy Sheriff.

I will be attending the county commissioners for the next several months.

For the most part, I believe that everyone knows that it is not feasible to enact an ordinance like this. But there is so much bad attitude and misinformation. I'm trying to sweetly speak to everyone and try to tell the other side of the story.

[Zen]

But there is so much bad attitude and misinformation. I'm trying to sweetly speak to everyone and try to tell the other side of the story.

Exactly what I had in mind. Let them see someone in person, especially a well spoken woman.

[Duck on Wheels]

I recall my folks always being extra nervous and cautious on the road during hay season. Those semi trailers overloaded with hay bales were really a hazard! Logging trucks are another one, quite similar but with a longer "season" (year round). This is cheap stuff relative to volume, so they pile on as much as they can per load and drive it as fast as they can. The wind drag is worse than most "ordinary" trucks create. Some cousins of my mom's were killed on their honeymoon when the little sports car they were driving got sucked in under a hay truck. Just imagine what would happen to a bike!

So of course, in hay season, I'm still extra careful. That said, shouldn't it be the other way around? It's the truckers who are driving a "murder weapon". Shouldn't the ordinance specify that they're the ones who need to reduce speed and show extra caution, show awareness of the physics of their load?

[mimitabby]

Although I agree with everyone about murder weapons, I cannot for the life of me understand how a bicyclist could have mouthed off about corn cobs being in the road! If he doesn't want corn cobs, he can ride in the city and worry about broken glass!
It sounds to me like there are attitude problems on both sides here. When we ride in farm country, we wave at the farmers and count the onions, pumpkins, corn cobs, etc as "road kill" and laugh about it. Sure, any of those things could cause us to wreck our bikes, but that's why we have eyes...

Silver, good luck with your officials. It sounds like you have some bikers there making it worse for everyone.