Petition to ban commercial vehicles from US129 (Deals Gap)

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S500K

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If You or Want To Ride The Dragon

Dwight "Ike" Woodard died Wednesday, August 3rd 2011 on the Tail of the Dragon at Deal's Gap.

I know many people like to head down and usually there are groups from GTAM that go down for the week. If you have rode the Dragon, will continue to ride the Dragon or would like to and plan on it in the future watch this video. There is a new law trying to be passed as "Ike's Law" that would not allow commercial vehicles as it is a very technical 11miles and 318 turns. Yes, Canadian signatures count, I signed it.

It is a sad story that people who have known him mentioned. In memory of Ike, please contribute to hopefully making one of the best roads for motorcyclists safer and more enjoyable...:)

One of my favorite vloggers and one of my favorite videos from him as he talks about his personal things and the twisties

http://www.youtube.com/user/ike955#p/u/1/auUujH4yAtM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkUOq_JeiQI&feature=feedu

http://www.change.org/petitions/ikes-law-restrict-use-of-us-highway-129-to-non-commercial-vehicles
 
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Re: If You or Want To Ride The Dragon

S500K said:
Dwight "Ike" Woodard died Wednesday, August 3rd 2011 on the Tail of the Dragon at Deal's Gap.

I know many people like to head down and usually there are groups from GTAM that go down for the week. If you have rode the Dragon, will continue to ride the Dragon or would like to and plan on it in the future watch this video. There is a new law trying to be passed as "Ike's Law" that would not allow commercial vehicles as it is a very technical 11miles and 318 turns. Yes, Canadian signatures count, I signed it.

It is a sad story that people who have known him mentioned. In memory of Ike, please contribute to hopefully making one of the best roads for motorcyclists safer and more enjoyable...:)

One of my favorite vloggers and one of my favorite videos from him as he talks about his personal things and the twisties

http://www.youtube.com/user/ike955#p/u/1/auUujH4yAtM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkUOq_JeiQI&feature=feedu

http://www.change.org/petitions/ikes-law-restrict-use-of-us-highway-129-to-non-commercial-vehicles
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what about motor homes the size of busses
 
Re: If You or Want To Ride The Dragon

Not to sure what would be classified under the "commercial vehicles" maybe a sub category, but I think the tractor trailers are what they don't want on the Dragon.
 
Re: If You or Want To Ride The Dragon

went down with my buddy in his boosted ls and it was scary driving through there during the day not only transports but people in general have very poor lane positioning. definitely approve of this potential law.
 
Re: If You or Want To Ride The Dragon

S500K said:
One step at a time, it is a start to get commercial vehicles off.
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"One step at a time"??? Are you kidding me? When do you implement the "next step", after somebody famous gets offed by a motorhome? If any vehicle cannot negotiate any and all of the curves because of it's length/size, it should be banned - not just the semi trailers because one of them happened to contribute to a rider's death.
 
Re: If You or Want To Ride The Dragon

Gummiente said:
"One step at a time"??? Are you kidding me? When do you implement the "next step", after somebody famous gets offed by a motorhome? If any vehicle cannot negotiate any and all of the curves because of it's length/size, it should be banned - not just the semi trailers because one of them happened to contribute to a rider's death.
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one step at a time is how you erode rights and privileges.

this isn't a matter of commercial vs private vehicles. all that should matter is length.
 
Re: If You or Want To Ride The Dragon

If any vehicle cannot negotiate any and all of the curves because of it's length/size, it should be banned - not just the semi trailers because one of them happened to contribute to a rider's death.
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Agreed. That is what my thought was in the first place, there should be a length/size limit. But I don't and not even too sure of the details etc of the petition, all I know is that the Dragon is a place where a lot of motorcyclist ride or plan on riding and support anything to make it safer.
 
Re: If You or Want To Ride The Dragon

S500K said:
Dwight "Ike" Woodard died Wednesday, August 3rd 2011 on the Tail of the Dragon at Deal's Gap.

I know many people like to head down and usually there are groups from GTAM that go down for the week. If you have rode the Dragon, will continue to ride the Dragon or would like to and plan on it in the future watch this video. There is a new law trying to be passed as "Ike's Law" that would not allow commercial vehicles as it is a very technical 11miles and 318 turns. Yes, Canadian signatures count, I signed it.

It is a sad story that people who have known him mentioned. In memory of Ike, please contribute to hopefully making one of the best roads for motorcyclists safer and more enjoyable...:)

One of my favorite vloggers and one of my favorite videos from him as he talks about his personal things and the twisties

http://www.youtube.com/user/ike955#p/u/1/auUujH4yAtM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkUOq_JeiQI&feature=feedu

http://www.change.org/petitions/ikes-law-restrict-use-of-us-highway-129-to-non-commercial-vehicles
Click to expand...

I heard about this on YouTube. Really sad. Will sign the petition now.
 
Re: If You or Want To Ride The Dragon

I don't get it. It's a public road open to all traffic. Just because thousands of motorcyclists use it a racetrack the laws have to change for their benefit? You want a nice road thats over 500 miles long without commercial traffic? Ride the Blue Ridge Parkway.
 
Re: If You or Want To Ride The Dragon

Most truckers would never go near that road if they had a choice. It's a routing problem where they are sent down there by GPS or dispatch. By the time they get there, they're already screwed - there's nowhere they can possibly turn around. I'd guess that most of them come off of I-40 or I-140 - maybe put huge signs at the exit warning them not to go through? Or maybe banning all large commercial traffic from the whole Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Just banning them from 129 won't fix anything.
 
Re: If You or Want To Ride The Dragon

RetroGrouch said:
I don't get it. It's a public road open to all traffic. Just because thousands of motorcyclists use it a racetrack the laws have to change for their benefit? You want a nice road thats over 500 miles long without commercial traffic? Ride the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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You don't have to be hauling *** for trucks to be a danger on the dragon, I was sweep on a slow group ride and 3 corners in we came around the corner to a semi over 3/4 in our lane, we were well under the speed limit at the time and the only way the guy in front of me was able to get out of the way was to get on to what little shoulder there was available.
 
Re: If You or Want To Ride The Dragon

It's a public road open to all traffic.
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Yes, your right. Nothing to argue there. All those riders who treat the streets like a track are taking big risks. Although, there are many riders who enjoy the mellow cruise. To each there own vehicle.

You want a nice road thats over 500 miles long without commercial traffic?
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The roads in question, are narrow and technical, no place for tractor trailer especially. Some roads don't allow cargo trucks on some city streets etc because of size?...I usually see the truck sign with the red circle and slash so maybe something along those lines can be considered for the Dragon.
 
Re: If You or Want To Ride The Dragon

is the dragon a shortcut? cuz what kinda trucker in their right mind would drive there? it's not like they get paid extra for driving on a difficult road. if the gps routed them there and they can't turn around, an u turn ramp should be built. maybe...?
 
Re: If You or Want To Ride The Dragon

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Re: If You or Want To Ride The Dragon

RetroGrouch said:
I don't get it. It's a public road open to all traffic. Just because thousands of motorcyclists use it a racetrack the laws have to change for their benefit? You want a nice road thats over 500 miles long without commercial traffic? Ride the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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the forks of the credit is a public road too, yet busses and trucks are banned there, how ever there are detours for them...


If a vehicle can not physically travel down a road with out crossing over the lines it either should not be allowed down it or it should require the oversize restrictions (road closures, permits, escort vehicles).
 
Re: If You or Want To Ride The Dragon

RetroGrouch said:
I don't get it. It's a public road open to all traffic. Just because thousands of motorcyclists use it a racetrack the laws have to change for their benefit? You want a nice road thats over 500 miles long without commercial traffic? Ride the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Click to expand...

Retro/CruisinGrrl:

Yes, it is a public road, but it definitely should not be open to all traffic. The road simply is not safe to be traveled on by large transport trucks or buses, as it it too narrow and too twistie.

this is the sign posted on the North Carolina side of the Dragon:

newNCsign.jpg



There are several areas on the Dragon where such vehicles cannot continue without crossing over into the oncoming lane (often at blind corners), or without allowing their vehicle to completely block both lines of traffic. This is dangerous for everyone involved, regardless of whether you're travelling at the speed limit or not.

it is heart stopping to come around a blind corner at the posted speed limit of 30mph and come face to face with a semi-trailer in your lane

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check out this webpage to see the damage they've done (there are lots of picture examples): http://tailofthedragon.com/dragon_trucks.html

I've seen the damage large trucks and buses caused while passing through, including torn tree limbs and gouges in the asphalt.

I'm sure many truckers who find themselves on this road soon regret it. Unfortunately, once a trucker gets on this road, there is no way for them to turn around and go back.

Examples:

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Re: If You or Want To Ride The Dragon

Fortunately, because of the danger posed to everyone, once a hapless truck or bus driver finds themselves on the dragon, locals on the road (in cars or motorcycles) will often escort them by travelling ahead of the trucks with their highbeams and flashers on, warning oncoming traffic of the potential danger around the next bend.

Keep in mind, these transports literally crawl through this area at a snail's pace for 11 miles.
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