Georgia - not a safe ride

homeycheese

If you don't have a good map, try this site: http://www.sadlebred.com/maps/6gap.pdf

Good luck.

Topsi1208

Thanks for the Map. I just got my first road bike & I'm looking forward to trying it out.

thebirdman

[img]images/icons/icon3.gif[/img]What would happen for cyclists if every driver had to log 50 to 100 hours of cycling or moped riding (low powered motorcyles) before they where able to obtain their drivers licence?

sabretech2001

I just moved from New York City to South Florida. In NYC one has to deal with cabbies from the Indian subcontinent who, to a man, earnestly believes in reincarnation and so cannot really grasp why it is you're trying to kill the w*g b*st*rd with your bare hands.
I'm now a bit under 30 miles from the aforementioned West Palm Beach and am more scared to ride than I ever was back North. Helmet, enough blinkie lights to resemble a Paki Festival, mirrors, the whole lot. And in spite of that, I'll probably still end up as a two inch filler on page 27: Cyclist, or what's left of the poor bugger, was scraped off of Congress Avenue yesterday afternoon. The driver, more than old enough to have babysat God when He was a Kid, claims not to have seen the victim.....No charges were filed.

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helmutRoole2

I'm from Miami and yeah, you better watch yourself down here. I ride bike and foot paths when I'm alone and still it's sketchy crossing streets. There are nice places in Florida to ride (gainesville is one) but the metro areas suck except Jacksonville.

The Northwest is very good. I rode quite a bit in Seattle.

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helmutRoole2

I don't know why it is, but it seems that, where ever I'm living at, that's where the worse drivers in the world are. Just when I think it can't get any worse, I move and BAM... yeah, it's worse.

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kk4df

I just got one. The one you will receive now is a 2002 map. They will have a new map available in the Spring of 2007.

Induray

Thanks for mentioning Jacksonville. We have our share of rednecks on the road and several cyclist have become roadkill due to idiot drivers. But if you are assertive when riding, you might survive our roads.

spinner123

It depends where and how you ride in GA or anywhere.

We live in overdeveloped flat South Florida. We belong to the largest oldest club is SFLA and ride every Saturday and Sunday on group rides of 25 -80 riders. We are careful to try and obey road rules. We get very little trouble from idiot drivers of which there are many in SFLA both with in and out of state plates. Most idiot drivers realize that starting trouble with a large group of physically fit people is asking for retribution in spades.

We also ride in North Georgia, the real home of the redneck people. The roads are mostly on mountains (no flat roads) but relatively quiet especially during weekdays between 10-3. Many drivers wave and smile at these idiots sweating up a 3500 ft mountain on a bike, but can't keep up when we are flying down at 40 - 50. I would add that I wouldn't for any money ride in places like Alpharetta or Atlanta metro area. Overdeveloped construction but unlike SFLA no roads worth calling more like cart tracks for yuppies.

So it depends very much on where you ride and who you ride with. In urban areas I think you have to join with other riders for protection.

Spinner123

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bigpedaler

not surprising to see different viewpoints on GA riding; different people have different experiences. hate to say it, though -- those of you that have had positive experiences in GA are in a disinct minority! after living in GA for several years, my experience is that Foxworthy is right about DRIVING (never mind cycling): "...merge is a PERSONAL CHALLENGE!". Atlanta metro should put up highway webcams -- NASCAR would fall by the wayside as an entertainment medium! and as far as cops who ignore their own laws (saw it in an earlier post), that doesn't surprise me, either. never will forget being investigated not only by the locals, but by an interstate task force, under the ludicrous suspicion of running a theft ring. but i can't be too bitter -- after all, i (6'1",225, caucasian) could easily be mistaken for the guy they eventually caught for it (5'4", 160, jamaican). forget blonde jokes -- do GA jokes! (this one is serious: most guys under 30 consider jail time as a badge of honor!)

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spinner123

positive experiences in GA are in a disinct minority!

As an ex Euro I have found the vast majority of drivers anywhere in the USA are idiots. I don't know why, the everage people are just as dumb/smart as in Euro. It's just an attitude of no cooperation and no pride in their driving skills.

North Georgia Mountains from Dahlonega on seems to be more populated with
slightly better drivers I guess it's the roads. Narrower and more demanding like Euro roads.

Try riding the N GA mountains you'll enjoy.

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