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Police launch safe biking initiative to improve cycling in Chattanooga

A bicylist waits in heavy traffic on Frazier Avenue before pedalling his bicycle across North Market Street. Outdoor Chattanooga, the Chattanooga Police Department and the city's transportation department sponsored a Safe Bicycling Initiative Roundtable aimed at identifying area locations where problems often occur, illegal or inappropriate actions by both drivers and bicyclists, and helping officers and others learn how they can work to increase tolerance on both sides. With context of rapidly increasing cycling interest and activity locally, high-profile incidents and deaths in recent years.
A bicylist waits in heavy traffic on Frazier Avenue before pedalling his bicycle across North Market Street. Outdoor Chattanooga, the Chattanooga Police Department and the city's transportation department sponsored a Safe Bicycling Initiative Roundtable aimed at identifying area locations where problems often occur, illegal or inappropriate actions by both drivers and bicyclists, and helping officers and others learn how they can work to increase tolerance on both sides. With context of rapidly increasing cycling interest and activity locally, high-profile incidents and deaths in recent years.

By Jim Tanner 5 min read

Chattanooga has made great strides in growing its cycling community and attracting economic development through the sport.

But the growth in cycling hasn’t come without plenty of conflict with motorists.

“As both those groups are getting bigger and bigger, the conflicts are getting more and more,” Chattanooga police officer Rob Simmons said Tuesday. “I’ve looked at the past five years of accidents, and there hasn’t been a growth in the accident rate, but the injury rate has gone up.”

The city is now the host city for two Ironman triathlon events as well as the USA Cycling men’s and women’s pro championships, and last year the city was named a Silver Level bicycle-friendly community by the League of American Bicyclists in recognition of its efforts to promote cycling.

Yet a cyclist was attacked on Raccoon Mountain by a group of youth and sprayed with pepper spray. Tacks were placed on the road during the bike portion of the inaugural Ironman Chattanooga last fall.