I'm in agreement with Kevin. The fundamental problem for many recent events is a lack of respect for people...negligent car drivers, failing to control their vehicle, interacting with cyclists cause death and injury, then cyclists violating traffic laws and common sense while on the road and trails...leaving careful drivers angry at cyclists...leaving cyclists angry at cyclists who are being road hogs. I've seen too many single-double pacelines where a 2nd-3rd party drifts out to the left and instead of moving briskly to the back just floats out there, obstructing legal traffic trying to pass legally on our left. That behavior is stupid on the part of the cyclist, is dangerous for all of us, and leaves many motorist mad at cyclists. Those kind of events get discussed in social circles and then the general public gets the wrong image about most cyclists who actually do ride "legal" and with common sense & courtesy.

At kindergarten age, your parents and your teachers teach you a simple rule about doing for others as you would like things done for you. Most GCC riders, with some exceptions mentioned above, follow that simple rule. I'm proud to be part of the club. Personally, I have found that an early wave with a yellow or red glove, at every car that passes me, coming from behind or in front, allows drivers to see me as I stay right, and it spreads good will...nearly every driver waves back. (If I forget to wave, cars will pass periously close.) On the GH Trail...there are times when you can put the hammer down and blast on open straights. But, common sense & care for fellow humans (& deer) should tell you to slow down in the curved sections with poor visibility.

But, I've been on a couple of Team Florida road rides...there are individuals who follow the laws and common sense...but there is a macho/superiority complex peer group behavior I've witnessed more than once, that disregards laws, common sense, and the public. That is what Kevin is talking about. I'm assuming TF leaders have been contacted. If TF riders are not directly involved with this bad behavior, they would know who is.

What about the rangers/law enforcement in charge of GH Trail? That double-pace line issue can be addressed if they see TF double lines in action. My family uses that trail...if a double paceline obstructs/scares/hurts my kids, my wife or me whie we cycle the trail, my response would escalate with the situation. Perhaps, the guilty TF riders should have courtesy, and then liability, explained to them.

I do not want to start an email blitz. I will not respond to replies that are not courteous. I hope my words might help. But, if you are offended, think about your riding behavior. If you: ride within the law, use common sense, think about your own safety, respect fellow humans, whether walking, roller blading, cycling or driving, and try to spread some cycling good will....my guess is you won't be offended by my words.

thanks for reading...Bob Howland, Glider/A- rider

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Kevin Ward wrote:

To: The Cycling Community of Gainesville,

I am writing in regards to what I consider aggressive riding by a double-paceline on the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail. On Wednesday, September 27, at around 5:00 pm, plus or minus an hour, a group riding in a double-paceline, sporting Team Florida Jerseys, ran my wife off the trail. This occurred on the curve just beyond the stop sign at the service road for the Alachua sink area. The group was occupying both lanes of travel and she had to bail out as the group, occupying the complete trail, approached head on. The hills and curves are no place for a double line.

On Thursday, the following day, I had some words with a group in similar garb and with similar riding technique. I used my best drill sergeant diction to express my displeasure with the double-paseline through the hills and curves area of the Hawthorne-Trail. If this group is riding with similar disregard to the rights of others while on public roads it is no wonder that drivers are angry with us as cyclists. Someone in this Thursday group said that she was on the wrong side of the trail, this is nonsense. She was as far to the right as practical and bailed out to her right.

Please stop riding two abreast through the hills and curves area of the trail. Please stop being bullies on the trail. The trail is for everyone in the community. Riders on the trail are not training obstacles in your game of chicken.

Sincerely,

Kevin Ward

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