Bikers vs Drivers, who will Win???

OK, Let's Lighten up. All this talk of socialism and communism has made my head hurt.

RE: Columns Drive
Columns Drive is a wide, divided, dead end road across from a state park ending in another state park alongside the Chattahoochee River. The park, Cochran Shoals, has walking/biking paths that loop the park, so it is easy to just continue the bike ride/jog onto Columns Drive, with some of the very few bike lanes in Cobb County. The rest of the street is lined with Expensive homes, a small condo subdivision and some up-scale apartments. There are no poor people living on Columns Drive.

I have been known to do some road biking on the bike paths in Atlanta, even on Columns Drive. It's a straight, flat 2.5 mile ride (one-way) and it's convenient to get out there a get some exercise. It's shared with riders, walkers, roller bladers and cars. The one way lanes are at least 1.5 cars wide, so even with the bike lanes a car can easily pass a biker without much trouble. My guess is that these people who are complaining about the bike traffic bought their homes on Columns Drive because it IS Columns Drive. Just like the folks who bought their million-dollar homes in and around Chastain Park Ampetheater, now that they live there, they don't want anyone else to use it. So the bikers train on the road, so what? It is a Dead End, not like there will be a major traffic jam on the road. It's one of the few places in Atlanta that is flat and straight for more than a few feet. If the residents are so concerned, why don't they start their own Neighborhood Watch to patrol the streets? Why depend on the County police to stop the bikers? I know it's Cobb County and everyone knows only wealthy, white, Republicans live in Cobb County (that's a sacrastic comment) but they do have some crime and police are needed for more important issues. I realize they pay taxes just like the rest of us, but why must the run to the government to solve their problems. The police can't be everywhere and are needed for much dire issues than the inconvenience of some people in a desirable neighborhood.

Bikers, like car drivers mostly follow the rules of the road, if they know what they are. Maybe posting biking laws at the entrance to the park would help. But, like drivers, not all follow the rules, especially some of those in 'training'. I have also spoken to and read on some bike group webpages that on narrow, busy streets, sometimes it is prudent for bikers to ride 2 or more abreast to slow traffic down, for the bikers' safety. I have seen it done a few times, but most bikers won't fight with a car. Drivers sometimes forget about bikers, and even on a bike it's difficult to stop dead at 35/40 mph or faster to avoid something. I almost had a biker end up in the front passenger seat or my car after turning right at a stop sign. I had seen the biker, made a mental note that he was on the road, but I had much on my mind and forgot. I turned right at a stop sign, probably didn't use my signal, and didn't think to look in the mirror on the right side of my car and came very close to cutting him off. That was my Bad, he had the right of way.

So what will happen? The politicians will try to put a law on the books to make it a 'No cruising Zone', and the taxpayers will be happy. But will those special taxpayers pay a little more to enforce these rules that apply only to them? No, they will not. They will complain that the county doesn't pay attention to them, and the politician may lose his job. And the already understaffed and under paid police force will have to patrol bikers on a more or less private road. Get a grip!