Monday, February 8, 2010
Street Smart
Just the other day I was informed that the city of Memphis is finally making a bike path that will enable cyclists to get from downtown to out east. It seems as if this has taken a lifetime to do. See, I have been riding a bicycle for the past 8 years as my lone source of transportation. I ride from my home in Cooper-Young, to downtown, to school, to work, and out to my dentist in Germantown. I ride everywhere. I love the ride. I love to ride. There is nothing more humbling to me than being out in the fresh air, taking in the beauty of this place I have learned to call home. What saddens me is when almost everyday someone is driving dangerously close to me. (In case anyone was wondering, I have every right to ride on the road. Hints the term, "roadbike." In fact, it is illegal to ride on the sidewalks.) Most of the streets in this city of ours have two lanes. Since I have the right to ride in the street, I ride directly in the middle of my lane. I ride at a respectable average of 23 miles per hour, which means that I am not just taking my time coasting down the street. I don't understand why some people have the nerve to pass so close to me, or even get right up on me and start honking their horn or yelling. It is uncalled for. It is so easy to just go around, and then after passing me, get back into the lane. There are many bikers who ride as their transportation, and not just for leisure or exercise. People need to learn the laws and accept the fact that my bike is my ride, and these streets are mine too.
Do me a favor and welcome bikers to the streets, keep an eye out for us, and please drive safely.
Oh yeah, did I mention that this bike path is extremely long overdue?
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I think this is a great thing, for Memphis to add a bike path. I think they need to make a law for bikers to ride on the sidewalk so it won't be so dangerous for bikers to ride in the street. But I agree this is long overdue. I am happy for you.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I would like to commend you on your courage and zeal on traveling by bicycle in the City of Memphis. I am very happy to hear a bike path from downtown to East Memphis is being constructed. I imagine you are able to save many dollars in gasoline prices in addition to getting a daily exercise work-out. Traveling by bicycle may become the wave of the future for Memphis residents!
ReplyDeleteI live in Nashville and we have several bike lanes. I love it. Although my grandson and I bike for fun. That is I do. He rides his everywhere unless he and I go somewhere more than 2 miles away. The Bike lane is great! You'll love it but most of the "drivers" are still rude and ride to close to the bike lanes (on each side of the street. These drivers I believe are probably rude to even other drivers. I have asked the policemen here if they are going to start giving tickets to rude drivers that drive to close to the Bike Lanes, as that is an endanger to someone's life. They told me it is being reviewed and considered. I think that everyone should be courteous to each other on or off the road. Bicycles are not safe on the sidewalks because of danger to the walking people/children mainly. I was raised in California where we had sidewalks both sides on every street but here in the south, no matter what town/city there are either no side walks or only on one side of the street so it is even dangerous for people to walk anywhere.
ReplyDeleteGood luck and Enjoy once they are built and still try and stay safe.
It is long over due for a bike trail downtown because with all the traffic after 4-6pm you can now avoid a lot of congested traffic. Last week my son was riding his bike in North Mempis and was almost hit by a car that was speeding, he said the car was speeding about 60 miles per hour on a 35 mile per hour street. Riding a bicycle to me is just like riding a motorcycle but it just goes faster than a bicycle. With all that is said and done; I think it is very dangerous for a person to ride a bike in the street when they are going the same direction the traffic is going. If you want to ride a bike I think you show go the opposite way of the traffic just to be on the safe side. So, however; I am so glad that this will take some pressure off of the people who enjoy riding their bikes to school, work, home or anywhere.
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