Sigh...first the San Francisco post, then this. Around my neck of the woods, the local government thinks they can save money by not putting in extended, paved shoulders on new roads and instead they want to build "sideways". Anywhere else in the world they're called sidewalks, and, with the number of driveways on the roads in question, they are, truly, sidewalks with all of the hazards associated with sidewalks. Impractical.

I sat and argued with the alderperson and nothing I said registered. Saving money was more important than bike safety. This sounds the same--Let's route them elsewhere. It won't cost but a couple of signs. Sure it isn't safe, but they'll never know.

What does it take to make the governing bodies understand that having safe bicycle-friendly routes will get more cars off the road? And, more cars off the road means less infrastructure costs? We live in such a car-centric society. Sad.