Bicyclists in Atlanta Insist on Legal Obligations After Tense Interaction with Police
A group of bicyclists in Atlanta is requesting for a change in policy and public attitude towards biking safety, following a tense incident with local city police. The incident occurred on Jackson Street in the historic Old Fourth Ward area of central Atlanta, and stirred engaging conversations around bike safety and city regulations.
The Incident
Reid Davis, one of the bicyclists, recounted that they were a group of approximately 30-40 cyclists riding together, when they were astonishingly swooped past by a BMW, which hurried into oncoming traffic across an intersection. Davis and other cyclists had anticipated the nearby police officer to take action against the erratic driver but were taken aback when they were pulled over instead.
Unfolding of Events
An incredulous Davis shared, ” I was certain they were going to pursue and apprehend the person who just illegally and dangerously manoeuvred past us. They got on the loudspeaker and asked all 30 to 40 of us to get to the side of the road. It was flabbergasting”. Davis mentioned that the officer on the scene had proclaimed they would be blamed if they suffered any injuries.
Perspective from Legal Counsel
On the other hand, Bruce Hagen, a personal injury attorney specializing in bike accident liability based in Decatur, stated that the law was misunderstood in the incident. He imparted that “bicyclists are not restricted to bike lanes”, and drivers are obliged by law to slow down, maintain caution and switch lanes akin to when they encounter first responders by the road. Hagen did mention that the group of cyclists may not be entirely blameless, as they should have been in double-file formation, however, he strikingly criticised the aggressive driver and the on-duty officer’s lack of legal awareness.
Bikers Solidarity and Action Plan
In the midst of city-wide efforts to reduce car dependency, which bicyclists significantly contribute to, Davis found this incident substantially demotivating. “It’s demoralizing for cyclists who should be encouraged in their drive for sustainable living. Instead of officers ensuring our safety as vulnerable road users, it unfortunately seems like there was an attempt to hassle us.”
No tickets were issued to the bike group, however, subsequent to Davis’s Twitter post about the disturbing event, two city council members have decided to assist in the situation. Matt Westmoreland, a council member, reached out to Chief Darin Schierbaum, and in response, the chief pledged to probe into the event. Meanwhile, Councilmember Amir Farokhi has contacted the zone major to address the confusion with local officers.
Final Words
Cyclists on Atlanta roads face real dangers and challenges from motorized vehicle drivers while simply trying to navigate their city. As Farokhi put it, “We carry an identical entitlement to the streets, but we lack an equivalent layer of safety.” Only time will tell whether this event leads to substantive changes in traffic safety and law enforcement strategies in Atlanta.
