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Cyclists, residents clash at Williamson County commission meeting; legal memo clarifies riders must obey traffic laws
Summary
Cyclists and residents traded complaints at the Williamson County commission meeting as legal counsel summarized a memorandum that says bicyclists must follow traffic laws, stop at stop signs and may ride two‑abreast unless impeding traffic; the county will distribute the memo and Highway Commission handles road‑closure permits.
Al Wagner, president of the Harpeth Bike Club, told the Williamson County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 7 that club members want to work with motorists and county officials to improve safety on narrow roads without shoulders. "We do pay taxes," Wagner said, asking the commission to share clear rules with cyclists and offering the club's email list for outreach.
Local resident Jerry Vaughn countered during public comment, saying he has not seen bicyclists stop at a particular stop sign near his 47‑year residence and described instances that alarmed him, including riders taking both lanes. "They're really getting arrogant," Vaughn said, explaining his safety concerns for motorists and cyclists on two‑lane roads.
A county cyclist, Jimmy Moore, said most riders do obey the rules and pointed to a recently signed state law requiring motorists to give bicyclists 3 feet of clearance when passing. "It was a public act ... you should maintain a clearance until you safely pass or overtake a vehicle by 3 feet," Moore said, citing the act's effective date as May 3, 2007.
Chair asked county legal counsel Bobby Cook to summarize a memorandum prepared for the commission. Cook said traffic laws apply to bicyclists and that "yes, they do have to stop. They have to come to a complete stop," at stop signs, and that two bicycles may ride side‑by‑side unless they are holding up traffic, in which case they must travel single file. He added that special events requiring temporary road closures must be brought to the Highway Commission for approval.
The chair said copies of the memorandum would be distributed to commissioners and to interested bicycle groups. Commissioners and county staff did not propose new ordinance language during the meeting; instead, the memo was offered as the authoritative explanation of existing law and the Highway Commission will handle any event permits or temporary closures.
Next steps: the county will make printed copies of the legal memo available and county staff suggested distributing them to bicycle clubs and posting them for broader public awareness. No formal ordinance or new county rule was adopted at the meeting.
