Bike commuting / biking is big in my family. But I do not want yet another expansion of the number of felonies you can accidentally do.

Asphalt Auto, pavement people. It's not that hard. Cars can only drive on asphalt, we aren't allowed to drive on front lawns. If you arrogant, self important bicyclists can't watch out for yourselves then oh well...

From what I can gather through the fog of uncertainty, the bicyclist was most likely turning left into Willivee when struck from behind by the driver of the motor vehicle. If this bicycle were a motor vehicle also, and if the turning driver died because of this rear ending, then it would be vehicular homicide at worst, and a violation of traffic laws at least. By Georgia law, a bicycle IS a vehicle on the roadway so to do nothing is an outrage.

Plausibility. An avid cyclist and cycling safety enthusiast is kneeling in the road? Even supposing he was kneeling the road, there is a clear line of sight on that stretch of road and street light at Willivee. And the large majority of cars speed on that stretch which, if I'm remembering right, comes just after a long downhill. How fast would a drive have to be going not to be able to stop or even swerve to avoid someone in the road there? Comparing the safety record of cyclist and driver. Plausibility.

Agree with ardnamor, this is a simple case of one vehicle rear-ending another. Should prosecute on those grounds. Still, there's another side of this. I'm a cyclist and have lived in and around Decatur for thirty years, and I have NEVER ridden on that stretch of North Decatur Road. The lanes are extremely narrow and traffic generally flows faster than the posted 35mph speed limit. When the accident occurred at 6:20am, it was dark. I feel really bad for Mr. Taylor and his family, but he showed no common sense on that day.

In NC where I learned to drive in the early 60s if a car-driver hit a bicyclist it was the driver's fault, even if the bicyclist was violating rules of the road--because human beings are fragile, and automobiles are "lethal weapons" in motion. I give at least two car-lengths to a bicyclist until I can switch lanes. (By all accounts Taylor
That said, when I am following a cyclist waiting to change lanes, often my heart's in my mouth, because a lot of cyclists either don't know or don't use hand signals to let me know what they are going to do. If I had a nickel for every time I have started to change lanes and a cyclist "darted" into that lane only a few feet in front of my bumper, I'd be a rich lady. There are still bikers who wear dark clothing (and no reflector tape on them) at night. If you dart in front of me or if I can't see you, and suddenly you are there in front of me, it takes a second or two to react and brake and the laws of physics about stopping distance don't change just because you are on a bike and not in a car. Please learn and use hand signals, lower my liklihood of having a stroke, and I will think a lot more kindly of you and all other bikers!
A mutual respect for the limitations of one another's vehicles and a mutual respect for the rules of the road and simple courtesy can go a long way toward a safely shared road for everyone.

Part of my message "vanished". I said by all accounts Taylor was the sort of bicyclist who practiced the rules of the road and observed safety measures. My heart goes out to his family and all the careful bikers who are terrorized by bad drivers of cars.

Sorry, bikers, but your continuous whining falls on deaf ears when so many of you ignore the basic rules of the road. You routinely fly down my sloping road at speeds far above automobiles. If I back out of my driveway and one of you slams into my car--which almost happened recently--I will be blamed and possibly jailed if you are seriously hurt. Several of you have wiped out on the speed bump near my house because you were going much too fast. One of you ran into the back of our car as we were turning into our driveway. You blow so closely by me when I'm at my mailbox that I feel a breeze or flop sweat as you pass. You run stop signs, you zip past me and other cars waiting for a light to change, you dart dangerously in and out of traffic. If you want respect, show respect. You aren't entitled to anything simply because you are on a bicycle.

I have started commuting by bike. It has been a Godsend for health and well being. I have a perspective on both sides. That being said, for quite a while now I have been amazed at the behavior of cyclists around here. One time two were side by side going at about 10 mph and I was blocked. They obviously thought that was just something I had to deal with since they have all the rights as vehicles. I have had cyclists slam their hands on my car for some crime I committed that I was not even aware of, darting next to me, through red lights, etc. This is the first time in a forum that I have read other cyclists acknowledge this fact. So I commend you for speaking up and noting the problem. I do not have any solutions only that I as a driver I have to be extremely careful around here. I never can be sure what that cyclist is going to do.

Upon looking over the posts I am not seeing anything that resembles whining. I am seeing, however, a good conversation between aggravated and angry motorists and civil bicyclists who are upset about the killing of a cyclist lawfully on the road, albeit on a very dangerous road. So sorry for the family's loss.

I just received an email from Georgia Bikes that states that the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) just approved a Complete Streets design policy ( http://georgiabikes.org/images/stories/docs/press_rel/gdot_complete_streets_press_rel.pdf ) So, the good news is that there is change afoot, so to speak.

I think this is a great conversation. Please keep it going.

I have been hit broadside by a driver making an illegal left. I have been hit by a Marta Bus passing too close to me. I have be brushed by an older driver, driving too close. I have also run stop signs, darted between cars and run red lights. I have fallen by my own doing in the middle of Piedmont Road due to the ridges in the median. I am 54, and I am an avid cyclist. All riders assume risk everytime they ride. Just as we are required to take a motorcycle class (which I have, and have had motorcycles) a cycling safety course fashioned after a motorcycle course will safe needless injury and death. If you are an intown rider, attempting a training ride on crowded roads always leads to frustration on both the riders side and the motorists he/she are trying to pass or turn in front of. Save your training rides for Silk Sheets, the Bud Plant, Silver Comet etc.. Intown riding, use it for recovery rides or long distance. Or find neighborhoods with great hills and do repeats, then take it easy going home. Motorists are for the most part very courteous and patient, especially inside the perimeter. However if your group feels the need to exceed the 3' from the curb limit you are being selfish and very foolish. Even I will give groups who ride two, three and four abreast a hard time. It makes the rest of us look bad, its stupid and its against the law. Save the competition for the appropriate venues. Learn to live safely with motorists. Most of us do.

Here is a link regarding testing for blood alcohol level after an accident http://savannahnow.com/stories/021204/LOC_jonesalcohol.shtml .

And, here is a link to sunrise and weather conditions 30 APR 2011 http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KPDK/2011/4/30/DailyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA

If Cyclist have the same rights and the same laws as motorist on the road, then I think they should be licensed. That also applies to scooters. I think the roads and speed limits were originally designed for motor vehicles driving a lot faster with bright headlights, tail lights, turn signals and horns. You drive up on a cyclist which is very small, very small tail light, if any. Some ride in the middle of the road. Some ride in the wrong direction. Anybody can go get on a bike with no tail light and no head light and ride on the street with motorist driving 50 miles an hour. The motor vehicle license is way too easy. That's why they hit other cars, cyclist, people and motorcycles. In aviation it's the same thing. If you fly a light sport, you don't have to have a certificate. They fly in the same airspace as other planes which do have to have a certificate. I don't understand. Hopefully we can learn and make things safer from this accident. My prayers go out to the Taylor family.

I have several friends who are cyclists and we have had several friendly discussions about it because I give a damn about them.
A cyclist has every right to the road. Similarly, a 16-year old girl has the right to walk down a dark ally alone at 2:00am. Is exercising either one of these rights a good idea? Er....I say no.

It is sad that this has turned into such a bitter debate between cyclists and those that are not cyclists. The facts here are that person who has been charged now 3 times in 4 years for DUI was not found at fault for literally running over a large man and his bike. Clearly this man does not choose to obey traffic laws as is evidence by his frequent moving violoations and DUI's. Those that have criticized the cycslist for making a poor choice for riding on such a busy rode - if it is so busy then why are there no witnesses to the accident? If this had been a pedestrian hit, would there be the same debate? Obviously this cyclist had fallen or had been hit by another car - it is absurd to think that he was intentionally kneeling in the road. If the driver of the car was able to see him and register that he was kneeling in the road as was reported on the accident report, then he should have been able to stop - of course if he were traveling the speed limit that is. There is a very clear line of sight coming up from Superior heading East on North Decatur. In a 35 mph zone you would have plenty of time to stop.

This conversation must not be hijacked by hate radio culture behavior. Motorists have very valid grievances towards cyclists hot dogging and cyclists have to contend with the degeneration of driving skills and etiquette (turn signals anyone?). To cap it off, the main roads are very hazardous and surface speeds are usually beyond the limit. This leads to a general lack of respect for the fact that using our roads is a social event that requires everyone to know and play by the rules so that we get where we want to go without anyone getting hurt. We are, truly, all in this together.

A new question, readers. How should traffic laws be changed?

Ralph, like the question. How about these changes:
1) Heavy fines for parking/stopping in the middle of traffic (UPS/FedEx/etc.)
2) Put cones in areas where drivers frequently cross double yellow lines

These two things cause problems for both cars and bikes. The violators are selfish drivers who inconvenience everyone.

Good ideas. How about strong enforcement of stop sign laws for cyclists and the 3-foot rule for auto drivers?

Ralph, I would agree, but the 3-foot rule isn't always realistic. For example, look at North Highland. There are lots of cars parked on a pretty narrow road. The rule would probably place opposing cars closer to each other than a car+bike. Also, that's probably a very resource-intensive rule to enforce (as would be rolling stops for bikes). Cops are more likely to spend time on violations with big fines/fewer big violators.

In my view, the big problem is some selfish drivers causing a cascade of problems when they impede traffic flow. This forces both cars & drivers into opposing lanes and reduces road capacity.

By the way, I totally acknowledge that some some bikes (especially large groups in a cluster) can cause problems. But the bike riders are more putting themselves at risk when they misbehave.

AJM, I had not thought about that. I've heard of police ticketing bicyclists for running stop signs but I've never heard of a ticket for breaking the three-foot rule. Have you?

no no one ever tickets for a 3 foot rule
i think it is just something to charge a motorist with after a cyclist is killed
obviously if there is a collision, the space was 0 feet

wle

This was a case of a cyclist making the poor choice to ride on such a dangerous road. I live a block away from the crash site an will not even walk down that part of N Decatur Road.
It is just a bad road and was a bad decision that day.

Americans were completely brainwashed by the auto industry long ago. What other 'product' alienates you from people, destroys the planet, destroys your health, causes wars (for oil)? Only the automobile.

How do cars alienate you from people when several people can ride together? Some of the best times my daughter and I have are on long drives. You kind of sound like the "car hater" in that Speed Racer episode about the guy on the horse that hated cars. Luckily Speed straightened him out :-)

Here is a link to an interesting article about bicycles and motorists http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2012/09/cyclists_are_annoying_why_you_think_they_re_a_menace_on_two_wheels_.html