Comments on: Proposed law would force cyclists off roads on federal land and onto paths

By: steve magas

steve magas — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:18:16 +0000

In Ohio, at least, forcing cyclists off the roads and onto paths would make it virtually impossible for injured cyclists to recover damages from negligent claims. Ohio courts have been holding that crashes occurring on bike trails are governed by a different set of rules than crashes occurring on roads. Courts have held that by engaging in a “recreational pursuit” – i.e, riding a bike on a bike trail – there is an “assumption of risk” of injury that isn’t present when you ride a bike on the road. Bottom line is that you have to prove MORE THAN negligence – you have to prove reckless or willful/wanton behavior. Also, the recreational user law insulates land owners from liability for negligence, whereas there can be municipal liability on roads if roads are not maintained.

Also in Ohio we pushed a law through in 2006 that bans bike bans. All Ohio roads are open to bicycling with limited exceptions for freeways and designated limited access roadways.

Steve Magas

By: Alison

Alison — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:55:53 +0000

I am not trying to be inflammatory, but as someone who only rides in parks and on city streets with speed limits below 30MPH, I am truly interested (and I already signed the petition). Is the issue that the bike paths aren’t maintained and/or don’t exist? Or is it that cyclists want freedom? And, by making sidepath usage mandatory are they then changing whose budget pays to keep cyclists safe? Seems to me every issue is usually rooted in finances. I am thinking that the sidepaths are the responsibility of a different agency than the roads. I am all for anything that keeps people safe and encourages bicycling for so many reasons.

By: Bikeleague.org Blog » Blog Archive » At a time when future bicycling funding is threatened, a look back

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:49:40 +0000

[...] had to fight hard in the Senate to maintain even diminished dedicated funding. Not to mention the mandatory sidepath law inserted into the bill that threatened bicyclists’ right to roads on public [...]

By: John Prince

John Prince — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:08:42 +0000

Thank you for calling this to our attention. As one who rode and fully enjoyed both the Natchez Trace and Blue Ridge Parkways I fully realize the impact of this bill.

By: John E Gilliland

John E Gilliland — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 23:36:36 +0000

This bill apparently also applies to all US military bases, where a lot of service members, DoD civilians, contractors, and military families ride. So this bill would deny this group a legitimate form of fitness and stress relief.

By: marjorie tonkinson

marjorie tonkinson — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:50:00 +0000

From an environmental point of view this is ridiculous. There should be more encouragement for people to ride bikes. The senate should be encouraged to ride bikes.

By: Darren

Darren — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:07:01 +0000

Bill,

Please refer to:
1. the name of the petition
2. the headline on the petition
3. the headline of the petition blog post (http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/2011/11/sign-the-right-to-the-road-petition/)

You will find that the issue of bicyclists’ right to the road is front and center. Time to give credit where credit is due.

By: Amber Griffith

Amber Griffith — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:30:42 +0000

Would you be comfortable riding in a paceline on one of these proposed paths!?I don’t think so!This is ridiculous!!! Every Saturday my group blasts down Cleaveland Heights in Lakeland Florida, its mostly downhill. The speed limit is 35 mph. Our paceline travels at 35 mph. Still, we get honked at!How are we holding up traffic when we are going the speed limit!!This bill would force us onto the sidewalk!!!Why?!!!!

By: Maryam Ahanchi

Maryam Ahanchi — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:21:35 +0000

Please don’t force cyclists off road.

By: Dale Sutliff

Dale Sutliff — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:48:03 +0000

Absurd! Not would this requirement increase development costs on federal lands to provide parallel bikeways, it would also cause environmental degradation as result of having to install bikeways where they may not be appropriate. Much cheaper, and environmentally, to widen the roads to accommodate cyclists, and/or add speed control and share the road signs.