Atlanta cyclists demand change after tense encounter with police during commute

ATLANTA – Atlanta cyclists are demanding change after a tense encounter with police Monday.

Reid Davis said he was in a group of about 30 to 40 other cyclists on Jackson St. in Old Fourth Ward when a BMW flew past them, into the oncoming traffic lane and across a intersection.

An Atlanta police officer was nearby, he said.

“I thought, wow, this is awesome, they’re going to go after the person who just legally and dangerously passed us,” Davis said.

But it was rather the group of cyclists that the police arrested.

“They used the loudspeaker and asked all of us, between 30 and 40 people, to stop and I was stunned,” he said. “I said to myself, you must be kidding me.

Davis says the officer claimed they would be equally responsible if they were injured.

But Bruce Hagen, a Decatur-based cyclist safety attorney, said that’s not true.

“It is not up to the police officer to lecture on the fault of the cyclist in a case of personal injury. The police officer’s responsibility is to guarantee road safety for all users.

Hagen said the officer got the law completely wrong: Bikes are not confined to bike lanes and drivers are required to move, slow down and pass with caution, like first responders on the side of the road. He pointed out that the group was wrong for not being in rows of two, but that ultimately the aggressive driver was responsible for his unsafe behavior and that the officer should have known the law.

As city leaders push for Atlanta to become less dependent on cars, Davis feels it was a slap in the face.

“It’s a wonderful thing that should be encouraged and instead of law enforcement looking after us as vulnerable road users, law enforcement has decided, for whatever reason, to harass us.”

Cops haven’t issued any tickets to the group, but since Davis tweeted about it, two council members have taken action.

Council member Matt Westmoreland said he contacted to Chief Darin Schierbaum about the issue, who responded that he would look into it.

Advisor Amir Farokhi said he contacted the area major which would remedy the confusion with the officers during roll call.

“We have the same right to the streets, but we do not have the same level of protection. Anyone behind the wheel is protected by 2 tons of glass and steel.

APD did not respond to a request for comment.