The two most dangerous animals in Chatham County are deer and bike riders

[TheGrinch]

We reduce Deer Populations during the hunting season but there seems no solution for the Cyclist….there’s no declared season on bike riders.....we’re lost!   Just yesterday, I watched 50-100 cyclist riding north on US 15-501.   I thought I had stumbled on Tour De Chatham, but I couldn’t help but wonder about the riders lack of common sense.   Now,... I’m not trying to be mean, but when these riders dash onto the roads with no protection from passing vehicles other than a pretty little helmet they must have a death wish!   Driving from bright sunshine into shady areas of country roads you can’t see while your eyes adjust to the shade!   If a driver encounters a deer, cow, or cyclist in such a condition, we just might drive into a dreadful accident or frighten ourselves into a heart attack! We could prevent many accidents if we sprayed deer with “safety yellow” paint.   The problem is...who supplies the paint and who’s going  to hold the deer while we apply the paint?   We’ve  got a much better chance with the cyclist!   Of course, I don’t think these riders would appreciate our actions when we hogtie the riders and apply yellow safety paint to them and their fancy bicycles.   I guess it’s a matter of rights and responsibilities……..our rights and their responsibility’s!   The North Carolina General Statutes require us to be respectful of cyclists but is there not an equal responsibility for the cyclist to respect other drivers and their own safety?   Before cyclists ride onto our roads wouldn't it be nice if they adorned their body with bright safety yellow shirts, mount a safety yellow flag on the end of a 6’ pole, and anything else they could do to ensure that we, the operators of motor vehicles have some chance of avoiding encounters of the “worst kind”.   Now before someone says they can’t find a yellow shirt, they might contact NC-DOT, or the Department of Corrections and buy one of theirs.   As a last resort, hide in the bushes and steal one from a highway repair crew!These young riders know more than anyone else about safety but our elected officials and overworked insurance agencies need to step into the breech and bring some semblance of order to chaos!   Consider…..the price of good bicycle ranges from $100 to $12,000.   Upwardly mobile cyclist who use their bikes as a status symbol sally forth on bikes with price tags greater than an average F-150 pickup.   If you doubt these prices I invite you to walk into any of the local bike shops in Chapel Hill and prepare to be shocked!   As this is the case,  why don’t our elected officials require that these riders make use of safety yellow jackets, flags, etc.; why not list bicycles for property taxes; why not require all riders to maintain liability insurance specifically for cyclists; why not require riders to be tested and carry bicycle license;  Our leaders accomplish two goals.   They will increase revenue for the county and municipalities and they’ve taken steps to decrease the danger of the driving public from the cyclists! 

[whatsup]

[TheGrinch]

What a great photo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[thinkinboudit]

Good helmet but the yellow or orange flags are missing.

[dkemom2]

With their brightly color spandex outfits, we have dubbed them "bike fairies".

[chrstnhsbndfthr]

Kudos to Whatsup!

[natvrabit]

I'd hate to be that biker with antlers during hunting season   Met a 'flock' (20 or so?) on Hwy. 751 this AM.
They must LOVE it to get on that road, I am scared in a car on it.
Read an account not long ago, I think on Mann's Chapel, that someone on a motorcycle collided with a deer.
R.I.P. the bike, fortunately the rider was not seriously injured it seemed by the report.

[dkemom2]

I know.

Whatsup deserves the award for best illustrations on the BB.

Maybe we should have our own BB superlatives.

[girlfrompbo]

I should think you would share my trepidation when it comes to people on this bbs naming you "most..." somethingsomething.

[belle]

I know.

Whatsup deserves the award for best illustrations on the BB.

Maybe we should have our own BB superlatives.

that photo was whatsup appropriate.

that post was Sofa King vacuous.

that comment was Claude Bowles incisive.

that retort was dkemom2 hot...

[dkemom2]

I did mull that over.  Then I figured if best "whatever whatever" is what i deserve, then tally the votes.

[natvrabit]

Now I am confused Which one of you is the biker Which one of you are the deer (in the headlights?)

[belle]

I did mull that over.  Then I figured if best "whatever whatever" is what i deserve, then tally the votes.

would you prefer "feisty"?

[dkemom2]

next you'll be pulling out "spirited".

Nah, thanks.  I'm bossy and opinionated.  That usually adds up the the b-word...if you're female.

[mamacash]

next you'll be pulling out "spirited".

Nah, thanks.  I'm bossy and opinionated.  That usually adds up the the b-word...if you're female.

Don't say that like it's a bad thing being a b-word...that would be Ms. B to everyone 

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