County Councilman Joe Dill is planning to introduce a resolution tonight requiring cyclists to ride single file (state law allows cyclists to ride two abreast). You can see the proposed resolution here or in the text below:
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE GREENVILLE COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION TO INTRODUCE AND SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO AMEND THE BICYCLE SAFETY LAW SO AS TO MAKE THE ROADWAYS OF SOUTH CAROLINA SAFER FOR BICYCLISTS AND MOTORISTS.
WHEREAS, the South Carolina General Assembly in June of 2008 enacted the South Carolina Bicycle Safety Law so as to grant bicyclists the same rights as motorists to ride the roadways of South Carolina; and
WHEREAS, members of Greenville County Council have received complaints from motorists that bicyclists are riding three and four abreast making it impossible for motorists to safely pass bicyclists; and
WHEREAS, S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-3430(D) provides that bicyclists riding upon a roadway shared by motorists "shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles"; and
WHEREAS, Greenville County Council finds that it is unsafe for bicyclists to ride two or more abreast upon any roadway shared by motorists; and
WHEREAS, Greenville County Council finds that the Bicycle Safety Law as it now exists does not provide any penalties for bicyclists that are in violation of the provisions of S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-3430(D); and
WHEREAS, Greenville County Council further finds that it would be beneficial for all law enforcement agencies to be authorized to enforce the provisions of the Bicycle Safety law.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Greenville County Council, for safety reasons, requests the members of the Greenville County Legislative Delegation to introduce and support legislation to (1) amend S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-3430(D) of the Bicycle Safety Law so as to require bicyclists to ride single file upon the roadways shared with motorists except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, (2) provide penalties for bicyclists riding in violation of S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-3430(D), and (3) authorize all law enforcement agencies to enforce the provisions of the South Carolina Bicycle Safety Law.
ADOPTED IN REGULAR MEETING THIS ___ DAY OF ____________, 2011.
This will be proposed at the public Council meeting tonight, October 18th, at 6:00 pm in Council Chambers- County Square. That means there is not much time and we all need to call and email the Council members today. Ask them to vote against Mr. Dill's anti-bicyclist resolution. You can point out that two bikes riding side by side are more visible to motorists and therefore safer for everyone.
If the issue that prompted this is, as Mr. Dill points out in the resolution, "that (some) bicyclists are riding three and four abreast", perhaps the existing two abreast law should be enforced rather than amended. I certainly support enforcement of the traffic laws that pertain to motorists and cyclists, but those cyclists who chose to break the law do not represent us all (just as dangerous lawbreaking drivers don't represent all drivers). On that subject, if any of you see cyclists on a group ride who are not following the law, please remind them to ride two abreast and to allow cars to pass. A little courtesy goes a long way in road relations, so we all need to be conscious that sharing the road goes both ways.
2 comments:
What if the county passes the law and says you can't ride two abreast but the the state law still says it's legal to ride two abreast, who is right, which one gets upheld?
If the county resolution had passed, the state law would still apply. The county resolution was basically just requesting the state legislature to change the law. It is very doubtful that would have happened, but the county resolution would have still set a bad precedent, so it is good that they did not vote on it.
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