Another cyclist hit this morning.... (Huntsville: vehicle registration, taxes, living)

[TN2HSV]

Not seriously injured but it was a hit & run.

I have mixed feelings about this but it does seem that accidents are on the rise. Thoughts?

[unlblkrubi]

Big greenway down there and sidewalks and bike paths on both sides of the road.

[Lamar Bowman]

Simply, the roads in this area are not bike-friendly.

[NoleFanHSV]

I pretty much agree with the other posters. The roads need to be wider with a bike lane. If a cyclist choose to be in traffic, they are they are taking their life in their own hands, especially around roads where people speed and will go around said cyclist. Bankhead is a pet peve of mine. I rarely go up that way, but when I do, more times than not a cyclist going 15mph is going up and no way around. In some cases a huge group is going up. Generally I'm not that much of a hurry, but I can imagine those who live up there deal with it more than I do.

My other though on this is that if cyclists choose to ride the roads, they need to pay taxes just like motorists do in the way of tags. Then they could get safer roads.

Looking at the article, it was early in the morning. Visibility is always an issue.

[guxu]

About a week ago, around 6:00pm, the traffic on Eastview backed up onto Slaughter Road. I was assuming there was a car accident. But it was just two cyclists. I understand cyclists have right to ride on the road too. But is it fair to slow down all those cars?

[r x f]

Originally Posted by NoleFanHSV

My other though on this is that if cyclists choose to ride the roads, they need to pay taxes just like motorists do in the way of tags. Then they could get safer roads.

That's a popular myth. Most local roads aren't paid for by use taxes (gas tax, vehicle registration), they're paid for by sales/property tax.

[TN2HSV]

I feel bad for the people who've been hit & injured recently, I really do. I'm not a cyclist, but if I was....there is no way in hell I'd ride on some of the roads around here that seem to be frequented by cyclists. In my area, they are often on Burgreen and/or Browns Ferry Rd. I can't tell you how many times I've been travelling at a NORMAL rate of speed and come up & over one of the little hills and BOOM - there's a cyclist (or 2 or 5) right in front of me and I have to slam on my brakes to avoid hitting them. Burgreen & Browns Ferry don't have shoulders or ANY room for error, so it blows my mind that people bike them so frequently. Yes, I know there's nice scenery but at what price?

I agree we need bike lanes. In the meanime, I think the cycling enthusiasts should, for their own safety, stick to areas where there are bike lanes or wide shoulders or sidewalks. I know we are supposed to "share the road", but it doesn't seem feasible or safe for autos going 40+ MPH to share the road with bikes going 10 MPH.

I also agree that if cyclists insist on biking the main roads, they should be required to register their bikes & display license plates. Even if that isn't where the majority of road dollars comes from. What's fair for one is fair for the other.

[BMW Dave]

The non bike friendly roads here are the single largest reason I don't bike.

I want to, especially with living so close to Research, but Jesus, making it the less than 1mi to the entrance is a death trap!

[TN2HSV]

Originally Posted by BMW Dave

The non bike friendly roads here are the single largest reason I don't bike.

I want to, especially with living so close to Research, but Jesus, making it the less than 1mi to the entrance is a death trap!

At least you have the good sense to not take that risk!

[jasonhsv]

al.com article says "Huntsville police responded to the scene around 5:15 a.m."

It's dark outside at that hour, this time of year.