We have a long way to go to bicycle enlightenment in Georgia. I should not read what goes on in Atlanta, but it’s where I grew up and I can’t help it if people are forwarding me the stuff over and over. Opinion Talk on AJC asked for comments on whether bicyclists should use the roads. Not surprisingly, the majority of reponses from the east coast’s model for sprawl were negative. Here’s an example of the attitudes:
I have no problem with bikes sharing the road if….
As noted in several other posts, cyclists obey all of the same traffic laws as motor vehicles and are subject to the same citations as motorists when they break a traffic rule.
They pay to license/register their bikes for use on the road. Having a valid license plate on a bike would help accident investigations where a cyclist was involved.
They pay some sort of “trail fee” to remain on par with the taxes built in to gas prices that motorists pay. These fees would be used to maintain the roadways that the cyclists want to share.
If cyclists want equal treatment on the road, the expectation should be that they are also subject to the same registration/taxes as motorists.
Let’s take the points in turn, as each is wrong in its own special way:
- To the extent that the laws are enforced, cyclists are subject to the same laws and citations as motor vehicles. Being on a bike does not excuse a person from a stop sign. I agree that we should set the example.
- Paying to register a bike is one that motorists often tout as their right to the road — after all, they ‘bought’ it with their tag and gas taxes, right? Not so, according to this study. As I have previously noted elsewhere,
- And then to say that we need license plates on bikes to help in accident investigations I think is just inflammatory, implying that bicyclists are hitting and running. What in fact happens is that motorists hit cyclists. The injured cyclist is likely unable to leave the scene — motorists are not injured and hopefully stop to help, though they often flee the scene as happened here not so long ago.
- These final points essentially cover the material under #2 again. Let me just point out again that roads for cars are heavily subsidized ventures. Tag and gas taxes do not cover their construction and maintenance, and therefore anyone who pays taxes of any kind is subsidizing personal automobile travel whether they choose to travel that way or not.
After examination of the direct and indirect costs of road building and maintenance, gasoline taxes would need to be increased by 20 to 70 cents per gallon for the roads to be a self sustaining venture. And so, in fact your and my property and income taxes pay a significant component of this infrastructure, to say nothing of my own automobile and gas taxes, since I too have a car and drive it.
Please join us for a general meeting on Monday, April 28, at 6pm at Keys Hall, 516 Abercorn (this is the old WTOC building just north of Sweetleaf). We will be talking about the May Wheelie, bike parking downtown, adopting bylaws and electing the permanent board. All are welcome — we hope you will join us.
