Raleigh Bicyclist's Death Spotlights Bicycle Rules and Laws
The recent bicycle death of noted Raleigh businessman Chris Mangum has sparked significant internet debate about the rights of bicyclists on the roadways of North Carolina.
In this accident, Mr. Mangum was riding on Lassiter Mill Road from North Hills towards Root Elementary School.
While riding on Lassiter Mill Road, a car driven by a retired local surgeon turned into Mr. Mangum’s path resulting in fatal injuries.
Following this accident, the internet has been ablaze with comments ranging from “the bikers don’t get . . .why would you put yourself on a busy road and then ask cars moving 45-55 mph to share the road with you” to “Bikes should not be on the roads”.
The laws of North Carolina are clear – bicyclists have the same rights to use the road as a motor vehicle. Bicycling should be a safe and environmentally friendly way to get around without the fear of motor vehicles ingoring the rights of the bicyclist. In the case of children bicyclists, the situation is even more profound. Learning to ride a bicycle is a right-of-passage for many young people.
So what do we do to protect bicyclists? Certainly more bike lanes are helpful but they require the use of tax dollars. Greenways are excellent and I ride with my children on the Raleigh Greenway regularly. However, not everyone has ready access to the Greenway system and the Greenways can be crowded with pedestrians who take priority over bicyclists (as is the case with sidewalks as well).
Simply, riding bicycles on the roadways must be allowed and motor vehicles must be more aware of bicyclists to avoid these types of tragic accidents.
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If you or a family member were involved in this incident and have questions about your legal rights, please call Hendren, Redwine & Malone and ask to speak with Mike Malone. You can also send an email to Mike Malone by using the message box on the right. We typically respond within an hour of receiving a message.
