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This video offers some really interesting thoughts and insights about the design and use of bike lanes in NYC (using information/footage from other cities and countries). I think it could be applicable to any location that is trying to create better cycling spaces.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONS2ptAR4mo&eurl=
Excellent video - a lot of good points and ideas. We don't have anywhere near that much car or bicycle traffic where I live, but the hazards are the same - not as frequent, but the lack of separation of cars and bicycles is still there and still a big danger.
I've been thinking of taking our video camera out and taping some of the hazards in our area to use at a public city planning meeting sometime. Maybe between that and the New York video, a solution might look more necessary - and doable.
Thanks for sharing. I hope everyone looks at this video.
Deb
Yes, great video. The only diff between this and Seattle is there isn't as much on street loading in our bike lanes, but there's just as much stopping and dooring and traffic!
Those bicyclists; did you notice? they weren't going really fast. That's how come they didn't die when the taxi door opened!
I confess I watched the whole thing without sound; the premise, which is basically good; to move the bike lane to the other side of the parked cars (next to the sidewalk) is a great idea on streets with room. But i have a qualifyer for that one too. That means the bike is on the right,
away from cars and thus vulnerable just like it would be on the sidewalk. Of course, if all
traffic rules are obeyed (by the cyclist as well) nothing bad will happen, but it seems to me whenever you are pitting 2000 pound vehicles against 25 lb bikes, there are going to be problems.
Nerve whacked! Nerve whacked! ("big cars: little bikes... problem!")
Yea, that was the argument exactly of the student who told me I needed to be on the sidewalk (this after he ignored my presence at the four-way and proceeded into my path) because it was simply stupid to be where 2-ton cars were.
I didn't think of the answer then... but now I would have to ask him, and others: and when we mix tractor trailers and subcompact cars, are there not exactly the same kinds of problems?
And don't we work to design our roads to be safe for both?
Unfortunately, many people (tho' I'm *not* thinking you're one of 'em!!) believe that because of this imbalance, the solution is to get the bicycles out of the way... we just had a long editorial in our paper about that imbalance and the usual rants about bicyclists not riding safely, and speculation that *that's* what we should worry about instead of "vilification" of drivers who run over cyclists because they're downloading ringtones.
That makes me want to ask: when that family was killed by a licensed-by-bribe tractor trailer driver in our fair state, nobody said "those drivers need to learn to drive more safely!"
End of rant :)
LIB (http://www.bikelib.org ) has some good technical info about bike lanes (especially for places perhaps not as congested as NYC).
I'm utterly excited because our fair city is going to be making a Master Bike Plan and bike lanes are already happening in places where they are a good idea... and they're listening to what's happening now and bringing in people who know bicycles to advise them...
Don't let the city get away with any crap while you're in those meeting Sue. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Geonz