Personally, I don't see road bikes on 30A as the problem around here. The people who don't regularly ride bicylces, but get on them for easy transport to the beach, on their once a year trip to SoWal, are a huge problem. Driving through WaterColor, I've often seen kids under 10 yrs of age, riding down both lanes of the road, all going in the same direction. Their helmets are usually loosely fitted, hanging on the side of their head. The "adults" are just as bad, though there are always exceptions to the rule.
I think that even for a regular cyclists, visiting the area, the rules are confusing. I've never lived in another town where riding bikes on the sidewalk was legal, and often you will see signs posted alerting people, "no bikes allowed on sidewalk." That rule is for the safety of the public. Here in SoWal, the mulit-purpose path (technically, it is not a bike path) crosses 30A in several places, and the cyclist by law, is to dismount the bicycle and cross. When traveling through Seaside, on 30A, the bike path disappears into a sidewalk. That is a huge problem in my opinion, and I don't know why Seaside has been allowed to not extend the multi-purpose path. For those regular riders from other areas, it can be very confusing.
Again, I don't think that the road cyclists are the problem, but there are plenty of problems that I have with the majority of people on bicycles around here -- the biggest problem is that they don't know, and don't follow the rules. Rather than wanting to run them over, I just breathe deeply and remember that I am at the beach, and making it to an appointment on time, might mean leaving a little bit earlier, rather than running over a person.
I encourage everyone to breathe deeply and focus on driving while you are on 30A. Let's remember some basics, no matter if we are in our car or on our bikes, like stopping for people waiting to cross the busy 30A. Let's give people the benefit of the doubt, and realize that they are trying to be on vacation and trying to keep up with little johnny and little suzie who have just darted across the street on their tiny bicyles, against their parents' wishes. The taking of one's life is serious, and no appointment is worth that time which you might spend in jail. About two years ago, a customer of mine, while driving his truck on 30A, killed a man on a bicycle, who darted out in front of his truck, and let's just say that his life is forever changed.
Slow down, breathe deeply when getting stressed, and remember that the life you save might be someone you know or love.
I think that even for a regular cyclists, visiting the area, the rules are confusing. I've never lived in another town where riding bikes on the sidewalk was legal, and often you will see signs posted alerting people, "no bikes allowed on sidewalk." That rule is for the safety of the public. Here in SoWal, the mulit-purpose path (technically, it is not a bike path) crosses 30A in several places, and the cyclist by law, is to dismount the bicycle and cross. When traveling through Seaside, on 30A, the bike path disappears into a sidewalk. That is a huge problem in my opinion, and I don't know why Seaside has been allowed to not extend the multi-purpose path. For those regular riders from other areas, it can be very confusing.
Again, I don't think that the road cyclists are the problem, but there are plenty of problems that I have with the majority of people on bicycles around here -- the biggest problem is that they don't know, and don't follow the rules. Rather than wanting to run them over, I just breathe deeply and remember that I am at the beach, and making it to an appointment on time, might mean leaving a little bit earlier, rather than running over a person.
I encourage everyone to breathe deeply and focus on driving while you are on 30A. Let's remember some basics, no matter if we are in our car or on our bikes, like stopping for people waiting to cross the busy 30A. Let's give people the benefit of the doubt, and realize that they are trying to be on vacation and trying to keep up with little johnny and little suzie who have just darted across the street on their tiny bicyles, against their parents' wishes. The taking of one's life is serious, and no appointment is worth that time which you might spend in jail. About two years ago, a customer of mine, while driving his truck on 30A, killed a man on a bicycle, who darted out in front of his truck, and let's just say that his life is forever changed.
Slow down, breathe deeply when getting stressed, and remember that the life you save might be someone you know or love.
