I’m living in Nashville, TN now, and I joined your list back before Easter, to try and find a safe place to ride while I’m down visiting my mother.  I actually grew up in Fort Walton Beach, so your issues are still near and dear to my heart!   DON’T LET THIS HORRIBLE EVENT DISCOURAGE NEW RIDERS FROM TAKING UP THE SPORT! 

I have a few observations, take them or leave them:

I live in the heart of Nashville (Green Hills area).  Though we have lots of heavy traffic, there are either bike lanes, or low traffic ways of breaking out of the heart of the city for long safe rides into the country, without using unsafe roads.  The Fort Walton Beach area is locked up - no easy way to get from downtown Fort Walton to anywhere north, east or west.  Highway 98 in either direction, Eglin Parkway and Beal are all unusable, but are really the only ways out of town.

When I was down for Easter, I drove out to the new 4-lane extension on highway 98.  It’s a shame they’re building nice bike lanes out there, while the Fort Walton area gets near nothing.  I speculate this is just better foresight when planning the roads out there, but the Fort Walton area should be trying to work them in during future road projects.

All cities have good drivers and bad drivers.  But, I think Nashville drivers expect to see bicycles more than Okaloosa drivers.  I rarely see bicycles when I’m down in Fort Walton, probably because cyclists need a death wish to ride where they’re going to be seen!  

Thought I’d pass this along.  Here’s an organization that promotes bicycle advocacy in Nashville:  http://www.walkbikenashville.org/.  They’re about to put on the “Tour de Nash”, a t-shirt ride that invites the general public to tour Nashville on their bicycles.  They also work with city planners and the state road commission to get changes made. 

Before I’m done, I have to mention my dream route – ride from Fort Walton down 98, and circle the Choctawhatchee Bay either via the mid-bay bridge, or 331, then back around.  If the route was only safe enough, you could draw riders from all over the southeast during a tourist off-season, like late fall!  This might be a possible economic incentive for the community to support some changes?  A ride like that might be sponsored as a charity ride for disabled veterans, ADA Tour de Cure, MS150 or such.

Long story short, I hope you’re all successful in turning this terrible event into something positive for your local cyclists.

-----Original Message-----
From: eccycling@yahoogroups.com [mailto:eccycling@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Nerissa
Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2005 12:58 PM
To: eccycling@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [eccycling] Re: accident news

Sounds good to me. I'd like to know more about the cyclist meetings
and scheduled rides.

I can empathize with the blood boiling. I think it's one of the
things that made me get out there and try to find a place, like this
group, where we could get the word out and put our heads together. I
am hoping with all my heart that something good comes out of this
mess.

Nerissa

--- In eccycling@yahoogroups.com, "Dan" <desteig@c...> wrote:
>   I have been reading your emails dealing with this and it really
boils
> my blood if she gets out of this.  I really appreciate all the
> information you are passing along Nerissa.  I hadn't seen any
follow ups
> in a long while and was wondering what was going on.  I might
suggest
> bringing ideas you have to get cyclist involved to the monthly
meetings.
> Maybe we can put our minds together and formulate a plan of
action.  The
> club has a few lawyers in it and maybe they could be of help.  I'm
sick
> and tired of the driving around here when I'm in my vehicle. 
Being out
> on the bike really makes me take notice.  I was almost hit a month
ago
> when a lady turned in front of me to get in her driveway.  Lucky
for me
> when she finally stopped in front of me I was able to skid and
maneuver
> the bike around the front of the car.
>    I don't want to speak for the entire club but I don't know a
cyclist
> out there that is not outraged over this crash.  I would think they
> would want to look for ways to make the lawmakers and public stand
up
> and take notice of us. 
> 
>   I would also like to encourage all you new riders to participate
in
> the clubs weekly rides.  We have riders of all skill levels on any
given
> Saturday and no one is left behind alone.  There is always a
shorter
> option to the rides if you don't think you're up to the entire
ride.  I
> feel safer in a group, more riders more for the drivers to see.  Of
> course this theory is no good if the driver isn't coherent.  I was
a new
> rider last year.  Just finished my first year April 1, 2005 and
riding
> with the club helped me make gains faster than I could alone.  The
> biggest plus the people are great.  Well, that's enough of a plug
for
> the club, but I know we (as in the club members) would love to see
some
> new riders participating in club rides.  Thanks again for all the
> information you have provided on the case.  Hope to see you on the
road.
>
> 
> Dan Steighner
> ECC Ride Coordinator
> 850-678-0120
>