Bicyclists to rally for lower speeds on Shore Drive

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!

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 It needs to be repealed!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?

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

"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."
What? She didn't see him, so she's not at fault? That makes no sense. If I hit another car on the road and tell the cop I didn't see them, I still get a ticket. What if it were a pedestrian in a cross walk? If you don't see them, you can hit them?
If the cyclist was obeying the law and riding properly, than the driver had to be at fault. If the conditions caused her difficulty seeing, she should have driven at a safer speed. Just to say she didn't see him so its not her fault is a cop out.

I find the comments amusing, especially 2 in close proximity, one of which demands that cyclists stay on the sidewalks which is illegal in VA, the other of which demands that cyclists police ourselves. And how has that been working for drivers? Had any luck getting people to obey the speed limit lately?

The irony of demanding that we break the law and then demanding we do what you can't in enforcing the law.

How about this: Every time a driver gets caught breaking a traffic law, every other driver has to pay the same fine? Said fines going to support road user education for all road users, motorized or not. Anything left over goes to make bike lanes ;)

Ban bikes from roads where the speed limit is 55 MPH or greater unless there is an approved bike path. We ban bikes on interstates because of safety issues, we should do the same on local roads as well. I am a bike rider and would never consider riding on Shore Drive. Cyclists who insist on traveling on roads such as this where they cannot maintain a safe speed or have a place to move out of the way in relation to motorized traffic are selfish and should be ticketed for impeding the flow of traffic and a safety violation. If a large truck that is going to be slow and impede traffic needs to get a permit and safety vehicles to escort it, why should cyclists be different?

Shore Drive is becoming increasingly populated, and as it does pedestrian and bike use will continue to go up. There is a problem for families and others trying to get from one side to the other on foot or bike toting kids, coolers, groceries back home, etc. Given our good climate and a very outdoor, active population, Shore Drive ought to be more than a paved barrier that splits the community, where to go even two blocks requires a motor vehicle. With the population density and cars traveling an average speed of 52 mph, the risk of an accident and its severity are far greater than at 35 (feel free to take on NHTSA and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety if you disagree). A lower speed limit is justified given the current character of the area.

No one is trying to ban cars or unduly restrict anyones movement. Done right, non-motorist use of the corridor can be better accomodated. Last, regarding the "don't pay taxes" mantra: a very sizeable portion of transp. funding comes from a half cent gen. sales tax, grantor's taxes, and others that everyone pays, including the 20% or so of the adult population who don't own cars. Pedestrians and cyclists pay these taxes and deserve more

Great idea! Since the serious bikes are easily $3,000 or much more, put on 1,000 or more miles per month, depreciate grossly, there is nothing to base a tax on but a flat fee. I think we should go back to city stickers again so everyone is on the same level. Tax on mileage, Blue Book value? That $20. per bike should really put a heap of money in the kitty. So that would fairly include every child's bike, cruiser, exercise bike and trik maybe...there will never be a happy medium without common sense and civility. What happened to VB being a 'bike friendly city' when the tourists come?

Thank you for sharing your comments & making this the most commented story & most read story today.

The discussion here will help everyone share Shore Drive a little safer.

Please continue it offline as well.

We sincerely hope to see you all out there Saturday to continue the conversation.

www.ShareShoreDriveDay.net for details.

Those of you that refuse to share the road, as you are required to by the way, ought to stay off the interstates. After all semis travel there and are much bigger than what most of you drive.
Come on people, how much does it really cost to add a foot to the side of the freakin road when it's being built?
As for Shore Drive, not every person that has died there was on a bicycle. Don't you think it may be time to either lower the speed limit or just add a bike path? We are spending the money anyway. Cleaning up the body parts, lowering the speed or adding a bike path.

Do they want bike lanes or lower speed limits? Bicyclist ask for bike lanes then they don't want to use them. Near Bayville Farms there is a bike trail just a few feet from the road. Where do the bicylists ride? In the road. The speed limit on Shore Drive has already been cut from 55 to 45. How much lower do they want it to go. They could eliminate the curb and put a wide paved shoulder on the right for bicycles. That would be a much better idea.