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Politics & Government

Wheels & Heels: Bicyclists Hate Road 'Turtles'

Those white plastic road bumps showing up around town are getting plenty of criticism from bicyclists.

Decatur bicyclists may begin wearing shirts with the slogan, "Save the Whales, Annihilate the Turtles."

But it's not living turtles they despise. The objects of their scorn are the hard white bumps glued into the road all over Decatur to delineate parking or no-drive areas. They get their name because they're about the size and shape of a turtle.

Cute name aside, Decatur's biking lawyer Ken Rosskopf says the road turtles are a waste of money and hazardous to bicyclists. 

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Rosskopf plans to air his turtle trepidations at a Community Workshop on Clairemont-Commerce-Church Street Pedestrian Safety And Bicycle Trail Improvements. The workshop will be held on Monday, Sept. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the City Commission meeting room of Decatur City Hall, 509 N. McDonough St., in downtown Decatur.

Rosskopf says the turtles are particularly hazardous when placed just around a corner.

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"A cyclist approaching the corner and intending to make a right turn is looking left to check for so she can turn safely," explained Rosskopf, whose law firm specializes in representing cyclists. "Then, after making her right turn, surprise, her front wheel hits a turtle and she is on the pavement with a smashed face and broken collarbone."

Ken's animated antipathy is no mere turtle tantrum. The turtle took the lanky lawyer down in just this way.

"It was one of the hardest falls I have taken in 30 years of almost daily cycling," grouses Rosskopf.

Additionally, he says the turtles should not be placed on the white "fog" line or next to any lane of vehicle travel. "Although cars roll over them, bicycles and motorcycles crash when they hit them," Rosskopf says.

The turtles waste taxpayer money because most are easily knocked loose. "Who knows what danger they pose as they roll around until they are secured," says Rosskopf.

"White stripes have worked fine for striping no travel zones. The turtles must only serve the interest of the turtle distributor's profits," Rosskopf said.

Darin Olson says "turtles are killers, and the cause of unnecessary clavicular fractures, unsightly bruising and ruin clothing due to leaking road rash! Save the baby killer whales, annihilate road turtles."

The Sept. 26 hearing is part of the city's capital improvements program, under which Decatur is considering options for pedestrian safety improvements to the Clairemont Avenue-Commerce Drive and Church Street-Commerce Drive intersections and for bicycle lane improvements on Church Street in downtown Decatur. 

The work is intended to improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians, bicyclists and others using these facilities. The project is based on Decatur’s 2008 Community Transportation Plan and is a project in the 2010 Strategic Plan. A major goal of the Community Transportation Plan is to encourage healthy lifestyles and active living in Decatur. 

The Decatur Community Transportation Plan is available on-line. The City has retained the firm of Development Planning and Engineering, a planning and engineering design firm, to help plan the project, which will be partially funded through grants from the Georgia Department of Transportation. 

For more information on the hearing, contact Hugh Saxon at 678-553-6507 or at hugh.saxon@decaturga.com.

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