The Friends of the Katy Trail want to put a cycle-track (sidewalk bike path) on the streets through the Art's District. This is one in Paris (France, not Texas). Notice the skid marks? What do you think might have caused those? Some folks want these on Jefferson Boulevard in Oak Cliff, too.
Pity the poor pedestrians who merely want to use the sidewalk for what it was intended. It must be open season on them.
15 comments:
The skid marks are almost certainly from fixed gear riders (no breaks) "skitching" their back wheels to slow down. What do you think they're from?
There is a "fixie" culture in Paris? Many Dutch style bikes have coaster brakes, don't they?
"Pity the poor pedestrians"?
Not sure if you are noticing the nice wide sidewalk to left of the trees. I personally think this is a brilliant design and use of space. This design will encourage far more people to bike to a destination than the standard bike lane found on our US streets.
@ Bike Jax
"Not sure if you are noticing the nice wide sidewalk to left of the trees."
Perhaps you haven't noticed that pedestrians move in four direction, not just two. Bus shelters and parking spaces are to the right, while residences and shops are to the left, and those trees you mention have tendency to block vision.
As for brilliant design, bike/ped/car collision rates are dramatically higher (even in the Netherlands) with designs like this... up to 180% higher (IIRC) according to a Netherlands Traffic Ministry study. "Brilliant" isn't a word I'd use.
Well, in all, I'm not sure. But I don't think this photo supports your general "bike lanes are worse than the Nazi Pogroms" theory.
Just keep that kind of stuff in Dallas County...l
Bob Loblaw said...
"Well, in all, I'm not sure. But I don't think this photo supports your general "bike lanes are worse than the Nazi Pogroms" theory."-
Let's see: Cycle track, "warning, pedestrians" marking, skid (skitch) marks. Must be a coincidence.
It's amusing how cyclists who want to be treated as pedestrians are so happy to then treat pedestrians as they imagine motorists treat them.
As for bike lanes and Nazis and what I've said... do tell.
Loblaw, I'll throw out my challenge.
Let's go play in traffic. Follow the law, follow the rules, go anywhere you like, time it.
Then, let's go do the same thing on sidewalks, from the same point of origin to the same point of destination.
All this stuff looks great on paper and in photos, but seriously - the best way to get more people to ride their bikes for purposeful trips.... is to educate them on HOW to ride their bikes for purposeful trips. It's just not that difficult.
Why won't you take the path of least resistance? RIDE YOUR FREAKIN' BIKE WHERE IT BELONGS - ON THE FREAKIN' STREET! Geez, I really wonder if there's some lack of testosterone in our culture's blood. Furthermore, it just doesn't take that much in the first place.
Signal your intentions, be visible, plan your route, take the lane.
Now go have fun and save the world.
PMS, why do you fear the bike lane so much? Does this go back to childhood? Sounds like you need help to me. That aside, I've lived years in Europe, and I can say that the bike lanes, whenever they are there, are wonderful. The streets are small and packed with traffic, including more mopeds than you ever wanted to see.
As far as your correlation between the poor design of bike lanes and accidents, well, that correlation is very weak. The number of riders in any European city is significantly higher than in the US. It’s much similar to the higher percentage of Americans driving cars than Europeans. And guess what? There are many more traffic accidents here than there. The horrors! How could it be? It's probably difficult for you to understand.
What I don't understand about you is if you don't like bike lanes, why don't you just continue to ride on the street? That won't become illegal. You and Speedo crew deserve the streets, and the streets deserve you. Me? I’ll take a bike lane. Peace and chicken grease.
j_leon said;
"The number of riders in any European city is significantly higher than in the US. It’s much similar to the higher percentage of Americans driving cars than Europeans."
Say j, would you reckon that European drivers are more skilled than US drivers? Would you say that European drivers are as aggressive and intolerant of delays as American drivers?
What do you think the likelihood is of Americans adopting the European driving mentality?
j_leon also said;
"What I don't understand about you is if you don't like bike lanes, why don't you just continue to ride on the street? That won't become illegal."
So besides being a armchair psychiatrist, you are a false prophet as well?
It is illegal to ride in a travel lane when a bike lane or side-path is available in many communities in the USA (Hunters Creek Village, Texas) and everywhere in the state of Oregon, to give but two examples.
A reminder: Personally abusive posts/comments are not published. This means your most recent one, Mr. Leon. If you can't discuss these matters like an adult, please take your comments to places where adult discussions are discouraged.
PMS, why do you fear the bike lane so much? Does this go back to childhood? Sounds like you need help to me.-
I don't. They are great at getting bicycles out of the way of cars. When that's my goal, I'm happy to spec them.
That aside, I've lived years in Europe, and I can say that the bike lanes, whenever they are there, are wonderful. The streets are small and packed with traffic, including more mopeds than you ever wanted to see.-
That's nice, probably not true, but nice. What else did you notice about European metropolitan cities? Population densities 10X that of Dallas' urban areas? Commute trips 1/10th (or less) or those in our area? Well developed public transit systems that make automobiles an accessory to urban living, not a necessity?
As far as your correlation between the poor design of bike lanes and accidents, well, that correlation is very weak. The number of riders in any European city is significantly higher than in the US. It’s much similar to the higher percentage of Americans driving cars than Europeans.-
Sorry, you couldn't be more mistaken. When there is a PERCENTAGE INCREASE in collisions, it's not based upon number of cyclists. But perhaps math, science, engineering, and urban transportation aren't your areas of expertise.
And guess what? There are many more traffic accidents here than there. The horrors! How could it be? It's probably difficult for you to understand.-
And that would make this low population density, long commute distance place an excellent place to imprint a Dutch style streetscape?
What I don't understand about you is if you don't like bike lanes, why don't you just continue to ride on the street? That won't become illegal. You and Speedo crew deserve the streets, and the streets deserve you. Me? I’ll take a bike lane. Peace and chicken grease.-
Because State Law, as understood even by the City of Austin (if seldom enforced there) requires bicyclists to USE the bike lane if provided. Much of the eagerness shown for bike-lanes and cycle-paths comes from anti-cycling groups who want bikes OFF the streets. Folks like you are simply unwittingly aiding them in their goal. At the unveiling of the Katy Trail Arts Loop, one of its prominent backers stated publicly that one of the BEST things the Katy Trail has done is get bicyclists off the streets.
BTW: I usually ride my bike wearing business-casual shoes, chino slacks, and an Oxford cloth button-down collar shirt (often wearing a Panama hat)... in the middle-left of the lane. On the weekend, it's sneakers, baggy shorts and a t-shirt (and perhaps a pith-helmet)... but that's just me.
To correct one statement, a proposed cycle track was not developed by nor initiated by the Friends of the Katy Trail. The idea to improve the bike-ped connections between the Katy Trail and Downtown was initially proposed by members of the Uptown Public Improvement District in 2006, and a feasibility study was later directed by a steering committee led by Councimember Hunt, and included representatives from Uptown, Downtown and the Katy Trail.
The cheapest way to get out of an investment in infrastructure is to pretend there is no need for it. I don't want the elderly or the young riding out in traffic as it stands in our communities. Ignoring the need for bike lanes is not the same as saying we need to be brave in order to change our world. Pioneers always have to go through tribulations. However we together as a cycling community need to help to reshape the world around us to help the future generations of cyclists. So any bike lane, sidewalk, or car free situation needs to be highlighted and praised no matter how small or in effective. That is how you create a movement.
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