Jenny, Thanks for the feedback on the Maine event. I just came back from a membership development conference in San Francisco, where bikes outnumber cars (nearly). In the conference we were getting support from mfgrs and local government. It felt good, and it seemed right. I love it when that happens.
Please don't get me wrong on the subject of bike lanes. Here's my recommendation:
Ride your bike in the traffic lane when conditions permit, move to the right and let traffic pass when you are going substantially slower AND it is safe to do so. Make curb lanes wide enough and eliminate obstructions SO it is safe to do so.
Just leave out the paint strip and "Bike Lane" declaration. It confuses people. Every public road is ALREADY a bike lane, no need to declare one.
---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Jennifer Selin jselin@hotmail.com Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:19:00 -0400
To Nick and all:
I know that bike lanes are dangerous, I have seen the "car turn-in to the bike rider" myself. However, if you really want more riders in Morgantown, we need a variety of ways that people can ride. This does not deny the bicycle its just use of the road, at least in my mind. I think we want to bring people along to the idea of bicycling one step at a time....
Separate trails along natural corridors such as the river or highways (many places have a separated trail many yards from the road to get to the local Mall or the next town) are a big boost to those riders who are not yet as adventuresome on the road with cars. These riders, sometimes this applies to me, over time may become more adventuresome on the road, particularly as car drivers get used to sharing the road.
Also the connections between neighborhoods, trails, and roads require careful navigation and the more timid riders become used to dealing with traffic when in these transition zones. Many people will enjoy the bike routes you are developing because they may not yet be thinking of the best way to use the roads to get somewhere by bicycle.
The more careful (wider) spacing of lanes, even the shoulders-that-are-paved-and-should-not-be-used-by-vehicles-such-as-bikes, give cars and bikes more room to work with speed differentials. There are ways to make it easier to bike by road design as you all have mentioned. Sometimes it is by slowing all traffic or limiting the access or turning options of car traffic.
I just attended the Common Ground festival in Unity Maine where they had a huge bike parking area and encouraged people to bicycle in from the nearby town. Each rider was greeted at an bike-tire framed arch by a small cheering committee. They also had a train commute option to enter the grounds.
Jenny
Jenny Selin 1224 Fairlawns Morgantown, WV 26505 USA
Phone:(304-598-9650) jselin@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 08:49:18 -0400 From: director@positivespin.org To: bikeboard@cheat.org Subject: [Bikeboard] Parade magazine article, Bike Friendly Cities
Good morning, This article was in Today's Parade magazine today. Good stuff, except for over-selling bike lanes and separated paths (IMHO). I'm going to take it to our mayor.
http://www.parade.com/news/2009/09/27-a-free-wheeling-city.html
Have a good riding day (splish, splash) Nick
-- Nick Hein LCI# 1705 Director, Positive Spin 2567 Univ Ave Ste 6000L Morgantown, WV ph 304-276-0213 --
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-- Nick Hein LCI# 1705 Director, Positive Spin 2567 Univ Ave Ste 6000L Morgantown, WV ph 304-276-0213 --