Onegun

Originally posted by corsarider in the Southeast forum - So .... no drafting at all, and no more than 4 riders in a group. And since it says "riders", not bicycles, is that only two tandems at a time??!!
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To all my Georgia riding buddies. If you are not aware, there is a bill that has been introduced that will require the purchase of a license for your bikes. It is HB689. Please take the time to contact your State Reps and let them know we do not want this passed.

There are other provisions such as no more that 4 riders in a pace line and if there are more riders, there must be 50 feet separating each group of 4. Here is a quote from the bill "Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall ride single file except on bicycle paths, bicycle lanes, parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, or when a special event permit issued by a local governing authority permits riding more than single file. Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall ride no more than four riders per single file line, and at least four feet shall separate each bicycle. At least 50 feet shall be maintained between each line of four riders at all times."


Here is a link to the bill: https://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/...0132014/HB/689

JanMM

https://www.georgiabikes.org/index.php/blog

Georgia Bikes blog suggests that the bill has little to no chance of being enacted.

koolerb

I have a friend in GA that complains about bikes on the road down there every time bikes come up in a conversation. He probably wrote that.

tandem rider

That bill, if enforced, would put a stop to organized or fee rides.

Onegun

Well, it says you would have to get a "special event permit". But glad to hear it apparently has no chance of passing.

hamster

Special event permit exempts you from riding single file, but not from pacelining rules. The bill also authorizes state officials (e.g. DOT) to ban cyclists from any highway or road at their discretion.

I wonder where this came from. It's a pretty long bill and it's unusual for a bill of that size to pop up with no prior discussion. None of the sponsors of the bill seem to have had any interest in bicycles before this.

I don't see any reason to think that the bill has "little to no chance of being enacted". Yes, the bill is not going anywhere until January, the reason being that the Georgia General Assembly is in recess. There's nothing to prevent them from considering the bill once they get back together.

waynesulak

Well I guess that makes me feel good about Texas. Not the most bike friendly place here but things actually seem to be getting a little better rather than worse. Bike Texas does a pretty good job representing us in the state legislature. I just commented today to my stoker that I couldn't remember the last time we got cussed at on the road.

Anyway it is nice to know we can always think of Georgia to make us feel a little better.

zonatandem

Have our gov't representatives nothing better to do?
S=c=a=r=y!

JanMM

I'll trust the judgement of Georgia Bikes (see previous link to the BG blog) when they state that "...we see no reason to think it will move forward in January. It is highly unlikely this bill will even make it to a floor vote in the House, and we know it has no chance of passing the Senate. HB 689 is not the law and has not been voted on by any legislator."
Bicycling advocates in Jaw-juh will be paying close attention, you can be assured of that.

B. Carfree

I thought that was Mississippi's job.

nkfrench 

Another proposed law that penalizes cyclists without providing any benefit to motorists.

I had a little conversation with a local TX DOT guy about bicycle registration. The administration costs would be greater than the income it would provide and they saw no real benefit.

Nice pictures and write-up on the Georgia Bikes blog.

Monoborracho

I'll put another thought forward on this, and I guess you can flame me if you want to.

We all are encouraged to practice vehicular cycling, yet if we ride in pace lines we are all guilty of following too closely.

I have a friend who works for the DPS (highway patrol) in the Austin, TX area. He put it to me pretty much like this

......" bicycle riders want to be treated like vehicles and have cars treat them like vehicles. Then they get out here on the road and run in packs inches off each other at 30mph. Something goes wrong and somebody gets hurt real bad at that speed. And, oh yeah, it's the guy in back who is at fault by following too close, not allowing time to stop, and plowing into someone. It's hard to have much sympathy........"

I hate to admit it, but from a legal standpoint he's probably correct.