Cyclists to urge council to make roads bike-friendly

Thursday, September 25, 2008
From staff reports
Huntsville Times
Huntsville bicycling enthusiasts plan to pack the City Council meeting tonight to rally for help in making Huntsville roads more bike-friendly.

E-mails were making their rounds Wednesday calling on bicyclists to show up in support.

The campaign comes in the wake of a car-bike collision last week that killed the cyclist. The victim, a 20-year-old University of Alabama in Huntsville student, was struck from behind as she was pedaling her bike from campus on Technology Drive toward Wynn Drive. Police reports say the motorist reported adjusting the wipers and turning to look at her ringing cell phone around the time of the accident. Witnesses reported the cyclist veered before being hit. Police labeled the incident an accident and did not file charges.

Organizers of the tonight's showing at council say the message to Huntsville leaders is the city has a responsibility to address the fact that more cyclists are commuting and that actions should be taken to make the roads safer.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 308 Fountain Circle.