Monday, May 18, 2009
A tale of two stripings.
These are two videos shots just a few months apart in Orlando, Florida (Cycle*Dallas' sister city), showing what the difference is between practicing lane control in a wide curb lane, and riding in a bike lane (as required by law). If this road didn't have a wide curb lane (as shown in the first video), the interaction would be the same as in the first video. When a cyclist controls their lane, the automotive traffic gives them space. When a cyclist surrenders the lane, cars and truck pass too close. In Florida, as in Texas, if a bike lane is present, you must ride in it.
Of these two videos, shot on the same roadway, in similar traffic, and just a few months apart... which would you rather ride on?
BTW: Florida has a 3' "safe passing" law. Works good, huh?
More here.
The male voice you hear is John Allen's, author of "Street Smarts".
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5 comments:
Interesting. The road is much like Bear Creek Parkway near Bear Creek Park in Keller, except BCP is two lanes with a double yellow down the middle. As on the video, motorists pass easily regardless of where the cyclist rides.
BCP also recently acquired white stripes, though Keller had the good sense not to try to call it a bike lane (there's a MUP on the south side of the street).
While I'd just as soon not have the stripes (car debris sweeping has deteriorated), they've not caused me any problems except when I experienced the "45th pass." I have never sensed any hostility on the road, even when riding down the center of the narrowed traffic lane. The motorists simply pass - right over the double yellow. Most of them "take the left side" lane to make their pass. The more timid souls do a straddle pass.
Florida does not have a mandatory bike lane law. We do have an FTR law. The problem with the bike lane stripe is that it is much harder to legally control the lane with it there. It is easier to argue practicability for shifting a few feet to the left in a wide lane than riding outside a bike lane. Because if bike lanes weren't practicable the wise government would not paint them.
A proper bike lane requires at least 17 feet of lane width on a road like that. The 15ft conversion is horrible. But TXDOT and FDOT are willing to convert 14ft lanes!
I should add... because bike lanes are considered part of the roadway, that space is subject to the FTR law.
Keri, that's why I argue that both Texas and Florida have a mandatory bike lane law... and that in Texas at least, the so-called "safe-passing" distance doesn't apply when a bike-lane is present.
Steve_A said:
"I have never sensed any hostility on the road, even when riding down the center of the narrowed traffic lane."
If you were to ride two feet out from the curb-face, I suspect you then encounter some motorist hostility as you presented them with the unwelcome uncertainty of passing a cyclist riding too close to the road edge.
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