I am writing about [Jerry Sternberg’s column], “Expert Idiocy: The Gospel According to Jerry,” published in the March 11 Mountain Xpress.
Specifically, [his] comment about sacrificing “traffic efficiency” with the addition of a bike lane on Charlotte Street.
As a resident of the South Slope, I can tell you downtown Asheville remains dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. Visitors and residents love Asheville’s walkable, historic downtown, but many of the city’s worst intersections for pedestrians are located downtown. Furthermore, Asheville ranks first in the state of North Carolina for pedestrian deaths on a per capita basis.
For too long, federal and state funding has favored cars over other modes of transportation. Many communities, including Asheville, have begun to invest in bike lanes and other enhancements, which make it safer for cyclists and pedestrians. These efforts are not about forcing people out of their cars or sacrificing traffic efficiency, but better balancing our transportation infrastructure to make Asheville safer for all residents and visitors — including pedestrians and cyclists.
— Kenneth Walker
Asheville
Bike riders can be SOO annoying… and I ride a motorcycle.. Yesterday I was riding the parkway and caught up with two of them riding side by side instead of single file. I was able to pass them three abreast and one of them gave me the middle finger. I KNOW NC laws require single file riding … but maybe that doesn’t apply to the parkway??
Next time you’re bothered by having to slow down for bicycle riders, consider the actual amount of time that it costs you to wait until there’s a safe place to pass. It’s almost never more than 30 seconds. Is it so important that you save that short amount of time en route to your pleasure destination that you’re willing to put someone’s life in danger? A little patience goes a long way.
I don’t mind slowing down for bikers and I do but their attitude still sucks. They don’t stop for stop lights or stop signs, they don’t ride single file, they refuse to move over to the side to allow you to pass and if you happen to be the patient one behind them , you’ll likely still get the middle finger because that’s what bikers do. Bikers beg to be disliked. They get what they want.
Tim, your “response” was non responsive. Mike described an experience which you ignored. How about the cyclist follow the law?
From https://www.bikelaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/BIKELAW_RG_NC_Web.pdf
Group rides and riding two abreast is legal:First, there is no state law addressing group riding. Anyone who tells you the law requires you to ride single file is incorrect except in very limited places (the only one I know of is within Mecklenburg County parks). On almost all roads, riding two abreast is perfectly legal. Some municipalities have “no more than two abreast” ordinances that are often mistaken for requiring single file riding. Check out your municipal code at http://www.municode.com to see if there are any areas that apply to your ride. You may sometimes hear motorists say that bicyclists should ride single file, as a courtesy to motorists. By doing so, the bicyclists sacrifice some of their safety advantage by allowing motorists to pass in the same lane. Also, it is not necessarily true that it is easier for motorists to pass bicyclists riding single file. Six bicyclists riding two abreast are (very roughly) about the length of two and one-half cars; at single file, they are twice that length and require more time to drive around. Riding two abreast also increases the group’s efficiency at intersections.If you pick up the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Guide to Bicyclist and Pedestrian Safety, you’ll see that it incorrectly implies that cyclists have an obligation to make passing easy for drivers. That is not the case; there is no such law. A smart and courteous bicyclist, however, chooses his or her route and bicycling time carefully. If riding recreationally, it is preferable to choose as many lesser traveled routes as possible or routes where it is easier for motorists to pass, if possible, and not ride lengthy stretches of congested arterials during rush hour traffic. Since our roads and neighborhoods are not typically built with bicycle connectivity in mind, it is not always possible to avoid busier roads. As
38a bicyclist you have the absolute legal right to use the road as you wish, within the rules of the road. You have an obligation to others – including other bicyclists who will share your reputation – to use your rights wisely
Bike lanes are such a white privilege issue. I would rather see a expansion of sidewalks(which more people use) they a lane dedicated to bikes.