Latest Comments

• City space is shared space

  Cities provide bicycle infrastructure improvements mainly in order to increase bicycle transportation "mode share" and reduce car traffic--not to indulge a particular group of cyclists. Public works departments need to accommodate cyclists of widely ranging ages and abilities and provide protected space for those carrying children or heavy cargo. Civil engineers assigned to retrofit bike lanes must work within the existing street dimensions and legal standards for lane widths. They may or may not be able to provide a passing lane. Fast cyclists are actually beholden to the critical mass of cyclists for any infrastructure improvements. Young cyclists who indulge in a "we were here first" resentment owe a tip of the helmet to their predecessors who were doggedly working for improvements 30 years ago and are civil enough to allow them to share the fruits of those labors. Join T.A. at: http://www.transalt.org/campaigns/bike
  

  Posted by Ellis October 24, 2010 21:19:51

• Copenhagen Bike Lanes

  In Copenhagen the busier bike lanes are 2.3-2.5 m wide allowing for passing. Same rules apply as driving where slower traffic stays to one side

  Posted by Tim October 20, 2010 12:46:10

• we should have bike freeways

  I commute 15 miles round trip to my work every day. Twice a week I add a commute to and from my son's soccer practice for an addition 16 miles (with my son riding along side me). If I had to travel at a speed that was accomodating to 3 year old- 90 year old persons the entire length of my trip, I would be forced to drive instead of bike as I wouldn't have enough time in the day.
  I am very supportive of going a "reasonable" speed on those few shared pathways I have to traverse, but when I am on the road, I expect to be able to go as quickly as the motor vehicles are allowed to go (or as quickly as I am able to).. And there should be the expectation that there will be vehicles, bicycles or motor cars) trying to actually GO in their designated lanes.

  Posted by jen October 18, 2010 15:26:36

• bike lanes are not freeways

  I lived in Amsterdam for years where people have been used to bike lanes for a long time. Pedestrians (and not just tourists) constantly, cross, stop and stand in bike lanes. In fact they are just like roads, and just like motorists, cyclists need to be aware of everything going on around them. Bike lanes are not freeways. They acomadate all sorts of cyclists from 3 years up until 90, freight bikes, kiddie-movers, parents shepherding children, commuters, shoppers etc, or they should, and need to be ridden in appropriately.
  
  I don't know what its like in NYC but here in Australia our cyclists, until recently, have been dominated by people on sports and mountain bikes. Very often they are traveling at speeds completely unsuitable for travel in a bike lane in an urban environment. I used to be one of them. Countries that retained their upright-cyclists tend to have more civilised expectations about cycling speeds and the fact that the path is shared by a diversity of cyclists as well as the odd errant pedestrian, runaway child or pet dog.

  Posted by faith October 09, 2010 19:58:17