A city for bicycling, texting and donating

Friday was a beautiful day. It was so nice, in fact, we spent some time in the heart of downtown just looking around. With the Ironman competitors in town, there was no shortage of things to see.

Cases in point:

I saw many more bicyclists on Market Street than were using the bike lanes on Broad Street. And it was not even close. Maybe the Ironman folks can remind our visitors of our wonderful bike lanes on Broad next year.

Also of note, we saw one visitor riding in the middle of Broad, ignoring our spaces reserved for our twowheeled peddlers.

“Hey, don’t you like the bike lanes?” I shouted as he rushed by, creating a minitraffic snarl and drawing a cavalcade of honking horns.

“Yes, I love the ChooChoo train,” he shouted back. Good times.

OK, we’ve asked a few folks why the triathletes seem to be obligated to practice in clothing so tight we can check their pulses as they pass. Seriously, it’s that tight. Here’s our best guess at the real reason: It’s a form of self-identification. There’s no way a non-triathlete could put on one of those numbers. Sweet buckets of self-humiliation, if I tried to “slip” into one of those form-fitting getups it would look like I was smuggling Honey-Baked Hams in my back pockets.

Folks, our downtown is thriving. That’s a great thing. That also means construction. That also means foot traffic. That also means other motorists.

But for that dude in the silver Honda, relax. You don’t need to turn your lunch commute into a demolition derby. They are still going to have a slice of pizza for you at Lupi’s — whether you are an Ironman or not.

TEXTING AND DRIVING

OK, speaking of road etiquette, we have all grown frustrated with the increase in traffic in the area.

As someone who grew up in Atlanta, I used to scoff at Chattanoogans who complained about traffic. But now, the whole Interstate 24 split thing has grown to be very Atlanta-like in traffic terms, and the I-24/U.S. Highway 27 interchange is painful. Just remember, the growing pains mean a better future. The construction on 27 has an end date.

There are plenty of ongoing traffic frustrations, including the bad design of the freeway splits and the truckers who won’t stay out of the left lane in the Ridge Cut.

But our biggest problem, by far, is that too many of you are messing with your phones while you are driving 60 mph and changing lanes.

Last Wednesday on the way to a Hamilton County Commission meeting, I passed no fewer than 16 people digging into their phones on Highway 27 between Signal Mountain Road and the Olgiati Bridge. Sixteen!

What about this: Maybe we will become the CATCHER — Columnist Against Texting Cell Handlers Endangering Roadways. Then, who knows, maybe one day you’ll see your license plate number in this space.

SATURDAY STARS

Our bickering seems small when compared to the natural disasters that are landing all around us.

Still, we echo the thoughts of many others that Americans are at their best when they see their fellow Americans hurting. Generous folks who have stepped forward to help Houston in its time of need are numerous. Houston NFL player J.J. Watt helped raise $20 million. Meanwhile, a local business, Surf Up’s Car Wash at the foot of Signal Mountain, raised $4,000 in donations.

And the aid push is far from over.

Hurricane Irma is a monster, and the islands off the coast of South Florida and our fellow Americans there are going to need huge amounts of help.

May prayers be with them.