The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
Bicyclists plan to hold two rides on Saturday to rally support for lowering the speed limit and installing bike lanes on Shore Drive.
The rides are a continuation of efforts made in the wake of bicyclist Daniel Hersh’s death April 19. An avid cyclist, Hersh was struck by a sport-utility vehicle as he pedaled along Shore Drive just before sunrise. Hersh, 54, died of his injuries later that day.
Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney Harvey Bryant said he would not charge the SUV driver because she said she never saw Hersh, and because there was no evidence she had committed wrongdoing.
An 18-mile ride will start at 7:30 a.m. at Kokoamos, 2100 Marina Shore Drive. A 10-mile ride will start at Final Kick Sports, 2865 Lynnhaven Drive, immediately after the start of the long ride. All riders must wear helmets, said Bill Hart, an organizer.
He encouraged participants to arrive about 7 a.m.
Shawn Day, (757) 222-5131, shawn.day@pilotonline.com
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Rally
I looked at their website, and saw a picture where they are all headed out on their bikes; it doesn't look like anyone stopped for the posted Stop sign! Oh the irony! Once again, they seemed to want the law changed, but are willing to break it...and at the start of their rally to promote safety along Shore Drive!
The new outragous speed limit
There are good opinions from both sides of this whole issue of cyclists and drivers along Shore Drive. However, I am fully against, and will protest the new 35 mph speed limit on Shore Drive. I have yet to see any sort of proposed protest and/or petition against the new speed limit-was there people at the rally opposed to the 35mph limit? If there is a petition, please let me know. I will gladly sign it. It needs to be repealed! Now! I give bikers the courtesy of slowing down and I do watch out for them. I respect them, except when a few openly break the law. No, I don't curse them, but I find it hypocritcal of them if they joined the recently rally. Please let me know of any petition I can sign to repeal this crazy idea of lowering the speed limit, or let me know how I can get one started. Who on City Council approved/voted for the lower speed limit? Did they pander and give in to the cyclist?
sad
It is true. AS a training triathlete, I used to ride these roads alot. I still run on them (sidewalks actually) IN last years, its hardly safe for even people driving their cars with how aggressive and crazy others are becoming. HOw many times have I watched cutoffs, fingers given and yelling as people race to the next stopight. See a runner, biker rider or walker along the side and slow down?? doubtful. BUt I agree, Shore Drive is no place for bikes at this time, sadly enough.
The solution: Lay a strip of asphalt 10 feet wide all the way down to Atlantic and when the next bridge is built, bes ure to have a protected walkway for people not in cars.
I have been close to hit by vehicles trying to do so. I have also been slowed or obstructed by cyclists who were riding 2-3 abreast in large groups, and others who have paid zero attention to any right of way law-rules. There are always the few idiots whether in a car or on a bike who ruin it for everyone. ITs no different here.
GET OFF THE ROAD!
Obviously, these people never listened to their mothers when they were told not to play in the road. Ride your bicycles somewhere else that have bike paths. If you get killed riding in traffic, that's your problem.
shore drive is a road, not a bike path
This is ridiculous. It's not bad enough that they get in the way of cars, but now they want us to go slower too. Shore Drive is a road, not a bike path. There is nothing wrong with the speed limit. Accidents can happen at any speed. If you are riding a bike on a busy road like Shore Drive, then you have to be willing to accept responsibility for the fact that you are not making a good decision riding your bike in TRAFFIC. It's common sense.
No bikes on Shore Drive or Great Neck Road
First Landing State Park has a beautiful ride, so does the area around Red Mill, Sandbridge is glorious, and what about our beautiful Williamsburg parks? What about the profuse sidewalks that are available.
I have lived in the Shore Drive corridor since 1993 and believe Shore Drive and Great Neck road should not be taken over by a group of biker enthusiasts. The groups disregard traffic like they own the road. And then there are the onesies...that ride like the world should stop for them. These bike enthusiasts have the ego of Lance Armstrong, but bigger.
I regret lives were lost, they were never intentional. The bikers place themselves at risk. And the locals know to look out for them and their attitudes, but travellers do not. Most bike enthusiasts in other cities respect traffic.
Whom on the biking team is intimidating city officials to let the bike enthusiasts to get away with taking over the road?
No bike enthusiasts on Shore Drive and Great Neck Road. Fine them, it will give the Police force on Shore Drive ( 1 out of every mile practically) something to do.
So Mark, there is no
So Mark, there is no possibility that Mr. Hersh could have veered in front of the driver due to something in the road such as gravel; or perhaps he wasn't paying attention. You don't think it's possible that a bicyclist riding on a road where the speed limit is 45-50 MPH could ever make a mistake? He didn't have any business riding a bicycle on Shore Drive regardless of whether he had the "right" to do so. You have a right to swim in shark infested waters, but to do so, one would have the common sense of a turnip. Mr. The same scenario can happen hitting a child chasing a ball into the street. Bryant's assessment was correct.
Bicycles should be banned from roads over with speeds over 35 MPH unless there are bike lanes.
Know the law before you comment
keithh41833
It doesn't matter what Mr. Hersh was doing at the time of the accident according to Va. State code:
§ 46.2-839. Passing bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, moped, animal, or animal-drawn vehicle.
Any driver of any vehicle overtaking a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, moped, animal, or animal-drawn vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass at a reasonable speed at least two feet to the left of the overtaken bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, moped, animal, or animal-drawn vehicle and shall not again proceed to the right side of the highway until safely clear of such overtaken bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, moped, animal, or animal-drawn vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle had a legal responsibilty to pass safely. Obviously us non-lawyer bicyclists don't understand the innuendo of the law, but the words are very clear. The driver of the vehicle clearly did not pass safely or at a reasonable speed (based on the fact that her speed was su
"It doesn't matter what Mr.
"It doesn't matter what Mr. Hersh was doing at the time of the accident according to Va. State code."
Of course it does. He could have pulled directly in front of the vehicle whether or not it was two feet out. He could have been going the wrong way against traffic on Shore Drive. The SUV could have been it's required two feet out and Mr. Hersh pulled in front of the vehicle anyway.
He had no businness riding his byclcle on Shore Drive. When you choose to ride a bicycle in the lions den, be prepared to be the lions dinner.
Obviously this law needs to be reworded
Obviously this law needs to be reworded to get bikes off busy roads. Knowing what I know about the way lobbies impact law these days this statute don't pass the smell test and seems to signal that the out-of-control bike lobby has been busy trying to claim "rights" to get killed by riding in places that are too dangerous.