Based on my very short (because I was almost hit multiple times when I rode down it just once) experience with the 2nd ave bike lane I generally advocate riding with traffic. Like over on 3rd with the buses.
But if they kicked the bike lane in, a la Alki Beach, I just might use it, even though from the video it looks like in many cases there's still a possibility of getting doored.
lantius
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:23 pm
1337Joined: 22 Jul 2005Posts: 6705Location: right over
the 2nd ave bikelane is some terrible bullshit. i always ride on the right side of the road, by the buses.
Finn
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 3:36 pm
AlabamaJoined: 15 Sep 2006Posts: 303Location: Central District
Bike lanes, physically separated or otherwise are a tricky issue. Good ones encourage cycling and protect cyclists. Some places really deserve them. Most however, are an attractive hazard for cyclists, and compartmentalize traffic classes. This gives rise to the attitude that bikes go in the bike lanes and cars go in the "car lanes." The fact that most motorists have no idea how to share the road safely will not be solved by moving bikes into the margins. If our roads are patently unsafe for children, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, then we need to drastically rethink the way we build our roads and how we drive on them. A seperate road system for bikes seems like an admission that we have less business on the roads than the car.
But, I'm always open to new ideas...
PS- hoping my Dr. will greenlight me for riding by mid April... fingers crossed.
Alex
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 3:45 pm
Joined: 18 May 2006Posts: 3128Location: Roosevelt
Most accidents occur at intersections. Physically seperate bike lanes or paths increase the number of intersections instead of decreasing them (unless you build them in tunnels or raised bridges).
I like sharrows, I look forward to widespread use of them in the city.
alex
lantius
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 6:29 pm
1337Joined: 22 Jul 2005Posts: 6705Location: right over
i like the bicycle lane on ravenna blvd and towards greenlake. the only thing it needs in my opinion is some kind of big bollard to keep cars from driving on it illegally. but given the option, i know where i prefer to ride.
on the one hand, i am a big proponent of bicycles having the same privileges on the roadways as cars. on the other hand, i support getting rid of car lanes to add additional non-car lanes, as long as they're not badly designed and unsafe.
Aaron
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 10:07 pm
Joined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 4645
lantius wrote:
i like the bicycle lane on ravenna blvd and towards greenlake. the only thing it needs in my opinion is some kind of big bollard to keep cars from driving on it illegally. but given the option, i know where i prefer to ride.
on the one hand, i am a big proponent of bicycles having the same privileges on the roadways as cars. on the other hand, i support getting rid of car lanes to add additional non-car lanes, as long as they're not badly designed and unsafe.
I think we need to give the green light to bike lanes. Even though they put you in the door zone, they are better than nothing. Sorry David Smith! I would say that just like most folks think you need a helmet, most folks think bike lanes are a good idea. Heck if it gets more folks on bikes then yes ma'am! I used to be a zealot for helmets and bike lanes. Can you believe that?! I also used to be vegan (then I started finding all this free food in the garbage!). It took me a while to see the why helmets are not needed and why bike lanes actually create danger and a false sense of security. The case of people parking in bike lanes seems, to me, to be a unique mega-city (NYC) problem. The video even said it, there are just too many people trying to use the same space. The cops that are all after CM there need to focus on those folks double parking the bike lane. The door zone problem is real. Just today a woman brought in her bike that she was doored on back in July. She just now is getting it out for the first time after. She broke both elbows and some fingers. Her bike was fine! She was looking in the back window of each car for drivers. Then, whammo whe was flying thru the air. It turns out the driver was, "a little Asian woman." She didn't see her head! The driver just flung open the door. The doorer's insurance paid the dooree's medical bills. Several tens of thousands of dollars, btw! Pins in the fingers, physical therapy, etc, etc. So for the city to recommend bike lanes in the door zone is wrong, but will probably happen because for the separated bike lanes to happen, one or both lanes of parked cars need to be removed. That or a travel lane deleted. And God knows that won't happen! We live in interesting times and I love to ride my bike!
adpowers
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 11:07 pm
Joined: 04 Apr 2006Posts: 164Location: U-District
That was an interesting video. It looks really scary to ride in NYC. Of course, I get scared on some of our streets, like 15th Ave W.
As for bike lanes, I try to desensitize my family and friends who are new to biking from taking the lane.
zero_k
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:15 pm
Joined: 30 Jan 2007Posts: 11Location: Central District
One problem with having separated bike lanes is that those pesky pedestrians will use them. Then there's the fact that you are constrained by a barrier when, say, you you want to get in the left turn lane at the next intersection.
Try using the bike lanes on Brooklyn Ave between 40th and Pacific St. Those are separated from the traffic lanes by a curb; they don't seem to work very well.
~Owen
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