In 2006, Jeff Roth was, first and foremost, a father of three little girls ages 5, 5,          and 7 year old, a husband. He was a Physical Therapist by career. He exercised          voraciously every day, rode long distances on the roads 5 to 6 times per week          and especially loved steep hills.

One August afternoon, Jeff was riding on Rt. 321 in Maryville, Tennessee and was hit and killed by Mr. Tommy Carroll who was driving a pick up truck. Local cyclists Matt Alexander, Mike Winck and Jay Nevans worked with Tennessee Rep. Doug Overbey to put together a bill to protect cyclists and educate motorists through the Jeff Roth Protection Act. The bill passed unanimously through the House and the name Brian Brown was added to the bill at the Senate level. Brian was killed when he was struck by a truck near Martin, Tennessee. He was a friend of Tennessee Sen. Roy Herron. In Spring of 2007, the bill was signed by Governor Phil Bredeson.

Jeff's death brought the local and state cyclists together and the Jeff Roth Cycling Foundation was formed. Our foundation will strive to promote safe cycling and motorist education of the Jeff Roth and Brian Brown Protection Act.

Bicycle Protection Act
The Jeff Roth and Brian Brown Bicycle Protection Act of 2007 was signed into law on May 3, 2007, by Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen. Tennessee joins a handful of states that have moved forward to further protect cyclists on our roadways.

Passed without opposition in both the House and Senate, this act provides that "the operator of a motor vehicle when overtaking and passing a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on the roadway, shall leave a safe distance between the motor vehicle and the bicycle of not less than three feet (3') and shall maintain such clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle." A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

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