Comments on: Cyclist hit by car on Hwy 77

By: Kati Trice

Kati Trice — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:26:10 +0000

I contacted TxDOT. Thanks for the link to their contact page. I’ll let you know when I hear from them. 🙂

Dear TxDOT,
In my community of Denton, we have recently had a cyclists hit by a car driver on Highway 77. Although this road is a highway, managed by your department, it is also a heavily utilized road by pedestrians and cyclists in a very urban and densely populated area of my city. There is clear need to make changes to Highway 77 in Denton, Texas to allow for bikes to travel safely. The road needs a dedicated bike lane, on-road bike insignia, “Share the Road” signage, and at the very least, a shoulder in which cyclists can safely ride. For the health and safety of the people in my community, your department needs to make changes to Highway 77.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Kati Trice

By: Ed

Ed — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:10:31 +0000

I’m glad the cyclist wasn’t badly hurt, or killed. Hgwy 77 is dangerous on a bike, but it is the only way to get to Discovery Park.

There is a sidewalk on the north side of 77 up by Discovery Park, but drivers are definitely not looking for cyclists on the sidewalks. As a driver, I think cyclists who do not ride with traffic (on sidewalks, on the left side of the road) create danger for themselves. Hgwy 77 is intimidating on a bike. I ride the stretch from Riney to Discovery Park.

I’ve had a few near misses with cars that didn’t see me in an intersection. When I’m on the road I assume every car doesn’t see me. You have to be paranoid when riding. A bike route from town to Discovery Park would be ideal. Drop a bike lane on part of it.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:39:57 +0000

I’ve just recently started riding here in denton. I’ve noticed that fewer people seem to pay attention to cyclists here. I don’t know that signs would be the most effective even. Sure they may help some but lines on the road as well as more cyclists to me make a bigger statement. I mean I felt safer riding in plano on the road as people saw me. I think part of it is that the roads are more open though. I was getting really frustrated today when I had a car tailgating me really bad going through TWU. I was going the speed limit even that was in adition to the typical hooks that people try to do and they tried to pass me at intersections when I took the lane. I thought they were to b I think it is more than one location but most of Denton has issues wth the road. It was my first time to ride across town and I wasn’t too impressed with the drivers.

By: Naomi Brynard

Naomi Brynard — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:25:16 +0000

Why can we not get funding to put sidewalks for cyclists in? It is part of the UNT campus and although the buses do run out here, there are many of us who live in the neighborhood and walk/bike to work…