Atlanta has a very strong cycling presence and lots of fans are tuned into the Tour de France as it progresses toward the final stage on July 26. The news today is Alberto Contador took Stage 15 and claimed the yellow jersey. Lance Armstrong followed a bit behind and crossed the line as number nine. Armstrong graciously acknowledged Contador's feat and recognized his incredible ride today.
Every Saturday, bicycling fans hit the Atlanta roads decked out in their colorful riding gear. As I head out on my errands in the Dunwoody-Sandy Springs area, I keep an eye out for those riders. Unfortunately, Fulton and DeKalb Counties do not have many bike lanes for riders on the roadways, putting those cyclers at risk for biking accidents from drivers who may not be paying attention or, worse, the drivers don't know how to share
the road with bicycles.
The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition offers City Cycling classes to teach bicycle riders how to ride safely and defensively on our busy metro roadways. Cyclers are taught how to follow the rules of the road and avoid crashes. I remember when a friend's son was seriously injured as he made a left turn on his bicycle and the driver failed to yield right of way. These types of accidents happen too often with disastrous results. In case you don't recall from your driving test, people on bikes have the same rights on the road as automobiles. This means they ride in the same lanes and in the same direction as cars, therefore, as you approach a cycler, you may not pass him until it is safe to do so - the lane is his just as if he was in a car. If we all remember this one rule, the bikers on our roads and in our neighborhoods will be much safer on their rides.
Check out these bike trails:
Silver Comet Trail, connects Atlanta to the Alabama state line. In Alabama, it continues to Anniston providing a beautiful 101 mile bike ride.
Atlanta/DeKalb Trail system along the Freedom Parkway into Stone Mountain and Arabia Mountain.
Photo Credit: Nils/stock.xchng
