Bike Chattanooga Seeks Input on Master Bicycle Plan

It's been a couple of months since the death of local cyclist David Meek in a collision with at truck.

Local cyclists feel encouraged by progress in efforts to keep them safe on the roadways since his death.

But they realize there's still work to be done.

Jon Moss, Cyclist, "I've crossed the market street bridge many times and just literally been run off the road, people honking and veering toward you. "

It seems every bicyclist has a story of a close call.

Cathi Cannon, "I"ve had a Gatorade bottle thrown at me on suck creek road."Cathi Cannon, Cyclist, "I've been buzzed and felt the wind go right by me very closely where you're just like oh my gosh."

Safely sharing the road became a more urgent concern for local cyclists after the death of one of their own David Meek in March.

Those on two wheels want those on four to know they have a right to be on the roads too.

Phil Puligese, "We really want the community to recognize that a lot of cyclists are riding to work. It is a business type trip and at the same time realize that a large percentage of motor vehicle trips are elective trips."

Bike Chattanooga brought riders together Monday to air their concerns.

Moss, "In Chattanooga when you drive and ride around the streets there's obviously a number of roads without shoulders and that creates a problem for cyclists when you have cars that don't yield the right of way."

seek solutions.

Cannon, "We've got some laws in town statewide actually that can protect cyclists and they're just not being enforced at this time."

celebrate the progress being made,

For example, laptops in Chattanooga police cruisers now have the Tennessee Bicycle Law on them,

and work for solutions yet to come.

Pugliese, "We hope to work with the new city council in cleaning up some issues especially with the city code and state code."

Bike Chattanooga hopes to get input from the community as it updates the master bicycle plan.

The group focuses on the four E's, education, engineering, enforcement and encouragement.

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