THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 29, 1996 TAG: 9609270252
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY AMY WU, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 66 lines
Peter Teeuwen's ghost is probably smiling at the ``Share the Road'' bike signs that have been sprinkled around Chesapeake lately.
It's hard to overlook the 60 diamond-shaped school bus-yellow signs with bicycle symbols that warn motorists that bicycles belong on the road too, but harder to overlook the two signs on Shillelagh Road dedicated to Peter Teeuwen.
Teeuwen was a bicycle enthusiast from Norfolk who spent much of his life putting together cycling races in the Hampton Roads area, such as the Southeastern Cycling Classic. He started riding as a child and rode in Chesapeake almost every day with his brother Gerald.
Three years ago Teeuwen died at the age of 42. His family believes that the several bicycle accidents he was involved with contributed to his early death. He seemed cursed by running dogs and flying bottles that caused him several falls.
Christina Teeuwen, 33, Teeuwen's niece, is a member of the Tidewater Bicycle Association who spent three years lobbying the City Council for the signs that warn motorists that bicycles belong on the road also.
Until now, Chesapeake was the only city in South Hampton Roads without the signs. Earlier this year the signs were approved by the City Council.
Before he died, Christina had already started the sign crusade. Her uncle was aware of it but didn't have high hopes.
``Peter didn't think we'd ever have them here,'' Teeuwen said.
Teeuwen and about five other cycling enthusiasts started writing letters to the Public Works Department and Mayor William E. Ward and making requests for signs at City Council meetings.
They were tired of being hit and harassed by motorists.
``You get guys and ladies that holler, `Get the hell off the road!' and give you the middle-finger salute,'' Gerald Teeuwen, Peter's brother, said. ``I've had cans thrown at me - full beer cans.''
Most of the time irate motorists are also ignorant, added Pamela Zimmerman, one of the lobbyists from Norfolk who rides in Chesapeake.
``Basically 99 percent of the motorists are courteous, but there's that 1 percent that's unaware of what the cyclists' rights are or just don't use common sense,'' Zimmerman says. Under Virginia law a bicycle is defined as a vehicle, and must adhere to the same road rules as cars.
Christina Teeuwen has received her share of comments from motorists. ``So many times people say, `Get off the road' or `Hey, get on the grass.' They'll tell you to get on the sidewalk,'' Teeuwen says. ``A lot of people tell us we're going the wrong way.''
Teeuwen and other members say that the City Council has been supportive of the signs. City Councilman Alan P. Krasnoff helped assure that the $116,000 cost of the signs was funded by the city.
Bernard Whitlock, a city traffic engineer, said an effort was made to place the signs in areas where bicycle traffic was greatest.
Teeuwen hopes the signs will remind motorists to slow down and pass with caution when bicyclists are on the road. But she's a realist.
``We all know that we're at their mercy,'' she said. ``It's just another way of giving a motorist a reminder that cyclists are a vehicle too, and we are part of traffic.''
Teeuwen isn't finished with her crusade for cyclists' rights yet.
``Next on the list is either a wider right-hand lane on all roadways or bicycle paths, because the more the city grows, the harder it will be to get around safely on a bicycle,'' Teeuwen said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
Christina Teeuwen, Peter Teeuwen's niece, lobbied as a member of the
Tidewater Bicycle Association for the warning signs. by CNB