Petition to Stop Dangerous Street Exercise Road Biking in Henderson, Buncombe, WNC Counties. Road Biking Poses Serious Public Safety Risks exacerbated small lanes, tight curves, short sight distances, and hills dangerous speed differentials.

Introduction
Ban Street Exercise Road Biking to protect Motorists and Bikers indoctrinated in unlawfulness.
We, the undersigned, call for the immediate restriction of luxury, non-travel road biking—recreational cycling on public roads, (identified by high-end sports equipment)—across North Carolina. This activity, distinct from biking for transportation, endangers lives, misuses public infrastructure, harms the environment, and burdens taxpayers. We urge local and state authorities to enact ordinances limiting or banning recreational road biking on high-risk roads, such as those with blind curves, narrow lanes, and heavy traffic, to ensure public safety and responsible resource use.

1. Safety Concerns: A Proven Risk
Luxury road biking threatens both cyclists and motorists. North Carolina’s roads, particularly in mountainous areas, feature blind curves and narrow lanes ill-suited for sharing between vehicles and bicycles. In 2019, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) reported 642 bicycle-motor vehicle crashes, with 601 injuries and 18 fatalities. Vehicles traveling at 35 mph need 122–194 feet to stop AASHTO Guidelines, far exceeding the 30-foot sight distance on many Western NC curves. Cyclists, often riding in groups or not adhering to laws requiring them to stay right N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-146(a), create hazards that lead to preventable accidents and deaths.

2. Misuse of Public Resources: Roads Are Not Playgrounds
Public roads exist for transportation, not recreation. Bicycle laws N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-4.01(49) were designed to support travel, not luxury exercise. Recreational cyclists, frequently affluent, treat roads as personal fitness zones, impeding traffic and violating requirements to yield when obstructing flow N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-141(h). Local governments can regulate street use for safety under G.S. 160A-296, and we demand they prioritize transportation over recreation.

3. Environmental Impact: Hidden Harm
Luxury road biking increases vehicle emissions, undermining claims of eco-friendliness. Cyclists on uphill roads or in traffic force vehicles to idle or accelerate to pass, raising CO2 output by up to 20% compared to steady driving EPA Fuel Economy Studies. A single cyclist can trigger a cascade of idling cars, amplifying environmental damage. This negates any green benefits and compounds the activity’s risks.

4. Economic Impact: Taxpayer Burden
Supporting luxury road biking costs taxpayers dearly. Bicycles pay no registration fees, fuel taxes, or insurance N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-279.1, yet benefit from over $10 million in annual state spending on bike infrastructure NCDOT Projects. These funds, meant for essential road maintenance, subsidize a leisure activity for the few, unfairly straining public resources.

Counterarguments: Context Matters
Some defend luxury road biking for health or environmental benefits. While cycling can be healthy, it need not occur on dangerous public roads—off-road trails or bike paths suffice. Environmental claims falter against evidence of increased emissions from disrupted traffic. Cyclists’ legal road rights N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-4.01(49) come with responsibilities many ignore, justifying restrictions for the greater good.

Conclusion: Act Now
Luxury road biking endangers lives, misuses roads, harms the environment, and costs taxpayers. We demand that authorities restrict or ban it on high-risk roads, enforce traffic laws, and invest in safer alternatives like designated paths. Public safety and fairness compel swift action.

Report to Law Enforcement these Common Bicyclist Infractions:

Not Signaling
Not Stopping
Not Following Signs
Not Self-Removing When Impeding Traffic
Not Using Mirrors
Not Staying Rightmost

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Not Signaling

Cyclists who fail to signal their intent to turn or stop violate N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-154(a), which requires all vehicle operators, including bicyclists, to use hand signals or other approved methods to indicate changes in direction or speed. Motorists can report cyclists who abruptly turn or stop without signaling, creating hazardous conditions, especially on busy roads or blind curves.

Not Stopping
Cyclists who do not stop at stop signs or red lights violate N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-158(b), which mandates that all vehicles, including bicycles, stop at intersections with traffic control devices. Motorists can report cyclists who roll through stop signs or lights, risking collisions with vehicles that have the right-of-way.

Not Following Signs
Cyclists ignoring traffic signs, such as "No Bicycles" or speed limit indicators, violate N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-141(a), which requires compliance with all traffic control devices. Motorists can report cyclists riding on prohibited roads, like interstates NCAC 19A.2E.0409, or disregarding signs, endangering themselves and others.

Not Self-Removing When Impeding Traffic
Cyclists who fail to pull over or yield when impeding traffic violate the implied duty under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-141(h), which exempts bicycles from impeding traffic citations but expects them to avoid obstruction. Motorists can report cyclists, especially in groups, who block lanes on narrow roads, forcing unsafe passing maneuvers.

Not Using Mirrors
Cyclists riding without a rear reflex mirror violate N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-129(e), which requires bicycles to have a mirror for safe operation. Motorists can report cyclists lacking this equipment, as it reduces their awareness of approaching vehicles, increasing collision risks on high-traffic roads.

Not Staying Rightmost
Cyclists who do not ride as far right as practicable violate N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-146(a), which mandates staying right except when overtaking, turning, or avoiding hazards. Motorists can report cyclists, particularly recreational ones, who occupy the full lane unnecessarily, impeding traffic and creating dangerous conditions on curves or hills.

Ban Street Exercise Road Biking to protect Motorists and Bikers indoctrinated in unlawfulness.

Evidential Data:

Calculations show vehicles at 35 mph, such as a mid-size car (3.49 seconds, 128.14 feet), Ford F-150 (3.78 seconds, 135.46 feet), Class C truck (4.69 seconds, 158.85 feet), loaded dump truck (6.05 seconds, 193.85 feet), or motorcycle (3.27 seconds, 122.47 feet), cannot stop within a 30-foot sight distance, risking collisions with cyclists AASHTO Guidelines. Accident rates, with 601 injuries and 18 deaths in 2019, reinforce this . Existing laws, like N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-146(a) (ride rightmost) and § 20-129(e) (require mirrors), are enforceable, but cyclists’ non-compliance, such as group riding or ignoring helmets, increases risks, supporting stricter enforcement.