Here's an EXCELLENT post (see what large letters I am using... this is important) on the Orlando Bike Commuter Blog about door zone bike lanes.
Please read this, and understand this is the norm for bike lane installations. This is what those who advocate bike lanes are happy with. With friends like these, who needs enemies?
4 comments:
Hey, I just noticed the door zone crash animation at the top of that page was broken. I fixed it.
In addition to understanding the danger of riding in the door zone, cyclists need to understand what's happening to us politically.
Facility advocates have instilled in our culture the notion that bike lanes = accommodating cyclists.
The result is: dzbls shoehorned into downtowns; bike lane stripes added to wide, slow residential streets; bike lane stripes added to wide lanes on commercial roads; "New Urbanist" residential communities with bike lanes on 25mph streets; substandard undesignated lanes that are accepted as bike facilities because they contain pavement to the right of a white line. All of this superimposed on the same culture of motorist priority and cyclist incompetence.
Oh, and throw in for good measure: cyclists framed as special interest recipients of taxpayer money because they can't be responsible for their own safety.
And then LAB gives the city an award for being "friendly." Politicians and engineering firms congratulate themselves.
Bah!
*end rant*
Thanks for the link :-)
...and my fair city gets a Bicycling Magazine "Worst Cycling" award because we DON'T do things like that.
No bike lanes = bicycle unfriendly
Killer bike lanes = bike friendly
It's why I gave up my LAB membership and didn't renew my LCI certification... LAB fell under the control of BikeFed/ProBike.
Is the LAB afraid of bicycling?
Yes, LAB has been hijacked. These people are perfectly willing to create the illusion of safety in order to convince more people to ride. And they're fine with competent cyclists who refuse to use crappy facilities taking the hit with harassment and mandatory use laws.
I'm a member of LAB because I'm an LCI and I want to teach. I also want to vote. We need to pressure LAB for an all-elected board. So members can get rid of board members who are not serving our interests.
Now more than ever, cyclists need an organization that exists exclusively for US. The bike industry has its own organization. There are plenty of organizations interested in promoting cycling for [insert cause]. Cyclists need an organization that is safeguarding OUR rights and interests and guiding those who wish to promote cycling in ways to do it ethically. As in: not at the expense of lawful, competent cyclists and not at the expense of novices who have no clue about the misleading nature of bad facilities.
We need to return LAW to its members.
Thought you might enjoy this ad I found in a local magazine:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13783559@N08/2799186788/sizes/m/
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