Feud Heating Up Between Cyclists, Drivers Over Sand Springs Roads

Tension seems to be mounting between a group of cyclists and some Green Country motorists.

The riders say they've been sabotaged with tacks and even pushed off the road by drivers.

"This ride, from what I understand, has been going on for decades," said Tulsa resident Sidney Flack.

The Wednesday night ride is tradition that brings Tulsa's tight-knit cycling community to the streets.

"Oh, it's like half the city's out here," Flack said.

Their routes vary from week-to-week. Some may travel far, others may take it easy. Flack says it's not about the distance.

"Our goal is to enjoy the highway, to enjoy the outside, to enjoy the company of others doing something we really, really enjoy and go home to our families just like the motorists do," Flack said.

The group saddles up in Tulsa and spins their way through Sand Springs and the rolling hills of Osage County, but Flack says not everyone on the road respects their passion for pedaling on two wheels.

"There was a person in a pickup who actually bumped off the road, intentionally, one of the riders," Flack said.

The Osage County Sheriff's office said that incident was reported two weeks ago, but is still under investigation.

But Flack said the aggression doesn't end there. He said, last week, tacks caused as many as 50 flat tires along Shell Creek Road.

"There were, in fact, tacks thrown on the road, so it wasn't an accident," Flack said.

Sand Springs Deputy Police Chief Mike Carter said he's heard complaints from both cyclists and drivers.

"Cyclists not obeying stop signs, riding more than two abreast and using people's garden hoses outside of their house without permission."

Carter said the most important thing to keep in mind is that state law says a cyclist has as much right the road as someone in a car.

Cyclists are required to ride on the right-hand side of the street, stop at stop signs and signal for any turns. It's against the law for cyclists to ride on sidewalks.

Bikers should ride as close as they feel is safe to the curb, but whether on two wheels of four, Carter said sharing the road is key.

"Everybody knows about road rage and that road rage can take on a totally different dynamic when it's a vehicle versus a bicycle," Carter said.

For drivers, there should be at least three feet between the vehicle and the cyclist when passing on the roadway.

Police say part of the problem is that both sides are misinformed. So, police will hold a public meeting on Monday, August 26, 2013, at the Case Community in Sand Springs at 6:30 p.m. to go over the rules and hopefully reach an agreement between drivers and cyclists.