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Health & Fitness

Three Feet Over

Gwinnett County has done a good job in paving bike paths in certain areas, but the county and its cities have a long way to go.

Our governor recently signed a bicycle bill which requires drivers to stay three feet away from road cyclists. Indeed the intentions are good, but just how do motorists judge that distance? It’s a tough call to make from the driver’s seat. Do automobile operators have to get out their measuring sticks? Is there an “app” for this requirement?

All kidding aside, I love recreational cycling with an emphasis on recreational. I wish I could write that my bike will replace my car to get to work, the grocery store and doctor’s appointments, but I’m just not comfortable with sharing main roads like 141 with a Ford F-150 or worse yet, an 18-wheeler.  I don’t mind riding on the side streets, but to be honest, the roads are not big enough for all of us. The busy straight and windy roads in the metro area are not wide enough for the SUVs, pickup trucks and minivans which have been popular in this region for years.

I’m a big fan of bike lanes and paths. The path in front of The Forum on Peachtree Parkway is a favorite, but it only goes up to the county line. In the past, I would join the traffic and then hook up to the marked bike lane that is part of 141 in Johns Creek. At that point, 141 is North Fulton County’s Medlock Bridge Road. Negotiating that portion of the road and its traffic is a challenge. I prefer less busy times, like say, 3 a.m. Unfortunately, I would have to invest in bike lights and reflectors

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I recently discovered the path that accompanies Gwinnett County’s Medlock Bridge Road. After getting on the path, there is a sign informing drivers that the right lane on Medlock
Bridge ends, but the good part is that the path does not end. That path takes riders from the intersection at Peachtree Parkway near CVS and up to the end of Spalding Drive. If I dare take a left, I would end up on the sidewalk alongside South Old Peachtree Road. Apartment dwellers and the Avocet subdivision residents alike use that sidewalk quite a bit, but it’s truly the safest way to get to Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.

From the Medlock Bridge path you can either stay on the typically empty sidewalks in front of Norcross High or be brave and ride the road.  Yes, according to state law, riders should not be on the sidewalks, but like most roads in the area, there’s very little room for cyclists in front of the high school. The Spalding Drive sidewalk leads to the Peachtree Parkway path in front of Wendy’s. I usually make a right and head towards the Weslyan School and back to Peachtree Corners Circle. Sometimes I’ll make a left and head south on Peachtree Parkway’s path.

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I’m also a fan of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard’s path that runs near the aquatic center and continues north towards Duluth, but like Peachtree Parkway’s path, it only goes so far until I’m forced to join the road.

Peachtree Corners, Duluth and even Norcross are making some progress in building bike paths. I’m hoping that there will be more paths in our future.

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