This sounds logical, but there is something about this plan that seems ill-conceived. Now I want to avoid this street whether I am in a car or on a bicycle. Just saying…
Agreed, Beth. They recently put new bike paths on Syracuse’s busiest boulevard. When I drove my car on it the first time I feared large collisions with cyclists with no drivers understanding about the right of way.
the singular bike paths seemed to have worked out over time, but lots of learning curve. here, the cars are in the middle, going 2 ways, moving in and out of bike paths on both sides, taking turns, whoever gets there first….yikes!
So true that some things look better on paper. In reality this kind of bike lane is a suggestion and reminds cars that there might be bikes around. I suppose it’s a step in the right direction.
I shuddered when I saw the diagramme and flinched as I read the “how to”. Nope, nope, nope.
Here, in Montreal, we have a designated bike lane on many many streets, either on the south side or the west side (usually). No sharing of space with the cars!
I cannot help but foresee disaster with this scenario… some car drivers and bike riders can have disdain for each other. It’s the moving as needed that scares me so!
Hmm, if the intention is to get fewer people driving, then mission accomplished. There are enough things already to concentrate on when I’m driving that I wouldn’t want another thing to factor in.
This is nuts. I’ve seen a lot of crazy bike accommodations in Greater Denver, but every one of them gives cyclists a lane of their own, usually by stealing some width from existing car lanes and, on a street near me, dangerously narrowing lanes of 45 mph traffic. I’m not confident that mere painted stripes protect those cyclists. And the other day I saw a big fire truck that had to hang a few inches over the line just to sit in the turn lane.
Quite a few of our roads are like this too. The reason over here is that you cannot make room for a separate bike lane. So they get a lane in the road and the cars have to drive behind them in case they cannot pass by. It gives the bikes a reserved space at least.
Basically the cars drive on the right side, as always. Only when there is a bike in front of you, you drive in the middle. If there is a car coming towards you, you need drive slowly behind the bike until you can pass by.
This sounds like a difficult street to navigate. Did they adopt this idea from somewhere else or did they create this on their own? I can’t imagine bikers feeling comfortable with this plan.
Hahaha. We have those lanes here in Corvallis, and I can say, this is one of those times where practice should really inform theory – not the other way around. Great post, Beth.
I agree – one on each side, and cars going in opposite directions down the same lane in the middle. ‘moving over and taking turns with bikes as needed.’
Because that has been proven effective ….cars being considerate of bikers 🙄 (and as a biker, I must say that the biker is also sometimes the one who did not pass ‘shares well with others’).
This sounds logical, but there is something about this plan that seems ill-conceived. Now I want to avoid this street whether I am in a car or on a bicycle. Just saying…
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or walking or scootering….what could go wrong? i can’t picture the cars moving in and out of the bike lanes, taking turns…
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maybe I have brain freeze but I cannot see this working….
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i’m right there with you, kiki –
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like the Frost quote, a lot! 🙂
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it says it all –
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I predict that your haiku proves to be more accurate.
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i predict you may be quite right…
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I agree–this just doesn’t seem like it will work. I’m assuming this is maybe a city street with 25 mph speed?
Keep us posted!
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it seems really illogical to me, and i can’t picture the cars moving in and out of the bike lanes, taking turns…
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🧐
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K.I.S.S .. is a good motto Beth, and I am not sure if this is so simple …
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i so agree and this is quite the opposite –
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Haha … I didn’t understand it…. but we drive on the leftside of the road …
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i didn’t get it either…2 way traffic in a shared middle lane, bikes on both sides, cars moving in and out, taking turns…. ouch
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Yikes!!!!!
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Exactly what I was going to say!
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Not going to be good
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Yikes is right!
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It’s a bit confusing on paper. Hope it works well in real life
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i can’t even imagine how it’s going to go –
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I hope it happens without any major mishaps
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oh, me too!
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👍👍👍
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love your little haiku, Beth; let’s hope it works well in the real world 🙂
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fingers crossed, but i’m a bit skeptical….
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Looks a bit confusing…
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so confusing….
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I am with Brad. That street or streets I will avoid!
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it looks like it’s going to be tricky to say the least )
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Dangerous I would say…
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yes –
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Agreed, Beth. They recently put new bike paths on Syracuse’s busiest boulevard. When I drove my car on it the first time I feared large collisions with cyclists with no drivers understanding about the right of way.
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the singular bike paths seemed to have worked out over time, but lots of learning curve. here, the cars are in the middle, going 2 ways, moving in and out of bike paths on both sides, taking turns, whoever gets there first….yikes!
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My life needs less yikes, Beth!
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same –
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Hmmm….like everyone else here, I’m confused and skeptical.
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it’s pretty unanimous )
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So true that some things look better on paper. In reality this kind of bike lane is a suggestion and reminds cars that there might be bikes around. I suppose it’s a step in the right direction.
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I shuddered when I saw the diagramme and flinched as I read the “how to”. Nope, nope, nope.
Here, in Montreal, we have a designated bike lane on many many streets, either on the south side or the west side (usually). No sharing of space with the cars!
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That makes perfect sense and we have some of these. This is two way car traffic sharing center lane and moving as needed !)
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I cannot help but foresee disaster with this scenario… some car drivers and bike riders can have disdain for each other. It’s the moving as needed that scares me so!
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Yes, so many moving parts here
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Hmm…could be a perfect example of a “cluster…” If you get what I’m sayin’…
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I sure do -)
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Hmm, if the intention is to get fewer people driving, then mission accomplished. There are enough things already to concentrate on when I’m driving that I wouldn’t want another thing to factor in.
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This is nuts. I’ve seen a lot of crazy bike accommodations in Greater Denver, but every one of them gives cyclists a lane of their own, usually by stealing some width from existing car lanes and, on a street near me, dangerously narrowing lanes of 45 mph traffic. I’m not confident that mere painted stripes protect those cyclists. And the other day I saw a big fire truck that had to hang a few inches over the line just to sit in the turn lane.
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It seems doomed to fail
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This seems a little, oh I don’t know, terrifying? I hope there are no fatalities to prove it was a mistake. But I’m not there.
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It does and I hope not, too
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“Ummmmmmmm…………..”
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So many things…..
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This is scary. I love Frost’s humor. It fits!
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It really is and it does )
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Yes!
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😨🙀😱
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Right!
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Quite a few of our roads are like this too. The reason over here is that you cannot make room for a separate bike lane. So they get a lane in the road and the cars have to drive behind them in case they cannot pass by. It gives the bikes a reserved space at least.
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And this is separate lanes that cross over –
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Yes, same over here.
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How does it go?
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Basically the cars drive on the right side, as always. Only when there is a bike in front of you, you drive in the middle. If there is a car coming towards you, you need drive slowly behind the bike until you can pass by.
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Accidents waiting to happen.
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Highly likely
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This sounds like a difficult street to navigate. Did they adopt this idea from somewhere else or did they create this on their own? I can’t imagine bikers feeling comfortable with this plan.
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They studied other city plans first
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Wow. I am curious to see how this works out. This is very different than what they are doing here in Portland.
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we have been adding bike lanes throughout the city, which I think is a good thing. this just takes street management to a whole other level
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Oh, they just did something similar in the city I live in and it scares me to think that people will be riding their bikes that close to my car.
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and the cars weaving in and out of their lane
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Hahaha. We have those lanes here in Corvallis, and I can say, this is one of those times where practice should really inform theory – not the other way around. Great post, Beth.
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oh, i so agree –
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this is what happens when you try to please everyone – a disaster waiting to happen…
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it just seems so counterintuitive to me
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and I think to most people!
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I’m guessing
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👍
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Nice haiku Beth! ❤
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Of all of the bike lanes I’ve ever seen never have I seen a bike lane like thee.
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I agree – one on each side, and cars going in opposite directions down the same lane in the middle. ‘moving over and taking turns with bikes as needed.’
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Because that has been proven effective ….cars being considerate of bikers 🙄 (and as a biker, I must say that the biker is also sometimes the one who did not pass ‘shares well with others’).
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I can’t quite figure that out. And if I can’t figure it out, there must be others who can’t either. Good luck, Ann Arbor.
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I can’t either and imagine driving or riding your bike on it – yikes
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For real.
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