Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Gort 12-mile Pinklegneep on December 2, 2012 at 5:02pm

I haven't experienced this on the protected bike lanes, but both times I was doored it was passenger-side from people who just decided they'd get out of their car or cab while it was still in the line of traffic. 

I'm pretty sure that some li'l sticker in cabs telling people to look before they open the door would do wonders for dooring. 

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on December 2, 2012 at 5:07pm

I'm aware of one PBL dooring so far, and it was done by a cab passenger.  It hasn't happened to me.

I did experience a non-PBL dooring similar to the one Peenworm describes above.  The cabbie stopped at the stop bar for a 4-way stop, right against the centerline, looking like he was just pausing for the stop sign.  Instead, his passenger opened the door as I was pulling up on the right.  *special*

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Permalink Reply by Gort 12-mile Pinklegneep on December 2, 2012 at 5:55pm

I'd guess PBLs are less bad for dooring because at least there's one side of the lane which doesn't have cars on it, so you can conceivably stay out of the door zone. Something which, if there's traffic on a regular street, isn't an option. 

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Permalink Reply by mike w. on December 3, 2012 at 2:27am

i can think of few lane/street configurations more dangerous than a PBL. Who thought that was a good idea?

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on December 3, 2012 at 2:46am

I'm with you. Let's call 'em Buffer Protected Bike Lanes instead, just like CDOT calls them. There is no confusion in that designation.

http://gridchicago.com/2012/jackson-boulevard-bike-lane-downgraded-...

h' said:

We need to stop referring to them as "protected bike lanes." We were promised protected bike lanes and what we ended up with was buffered bike lanes.  

I would like to see the eradication of the use of "protected bike lane" or "pbl" to refer to anything other than a truly protected bike lane, i.e. one which has a physical barrier to prevent, or at least significantly minimize the likelihood that cars or parts thereof will encroach into bicycle travel space.

Who's with me?

mike w. said:

i can think of few lane/street configurations more dangerous than a PBL. Who thought that was a good idea?

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Permalink Reply by mike w. on December 3, 2012 at 2:51am

i favour the eradication of separate bike lanes, "PBLs," "Buffer Protected Bike Lanes," and segregated lanes altogether.

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Permalink Reply by globalguy on December 3, 2012 at 3:06am

I agree. BTW, when was the whole "We are traffic" debate won by the PBL/BPBL crowd anyway?

mike w. said:

i favour the eradication of separate bike lanes, "PBLs," "Buffer Protected Bike Lanes," and segregated lanes altogether.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on December 3, 2012 at 5:08am

I know of one that happened to a customer at the shop.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on December 3, 2012 at 5:16am

That may be the same one I mentioned, as I know that he's a Rapid Transit customer.

notoriousDUG said:

I know of one that happened to a customer at the shop.

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on December 3, 2012 at 5:22am

Not according to CDOT. The bike lane has a buffer between the cars and bicyclists, therefore it is "protected". Not sure what is not clear about that ;)

(Note the emoticon)

h' said:

Not sure my point got across. To refer to a buffered bike lane as "protected" is basically a lie.

Duppie said:

I'm with you. Let's call 'em Buffer Protected Bike Lanes instead, just like CDOT calls them. There is no confusion in that designation.

http://gridchicago.com/2012/jackson-boulevard-bike-lane-downgraded-...

h' said:

We need to stop referring to them as "protected bike lanes." We were promised protected bike lanes and what we ended up with was buffered bike lanes.  

I would like to see the eradication of the use of "protected bike lane" or "pbl" to refer to anything other than a truly protected bike lane, i.e. one which has a physical barrier to prevent, or at least significantly minimize the likelihood that cars or parts thereof will encroach into bicycle travel space.

Who's with me?

mike w. said:

i can think of few lane/street configurations more dangerous than a PBL. Who thought that was a good idea?

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Permalink Reply by KatieP on December 3, 2012 at 5:27am

Hi Bill,

I've almost been doored a few times in the lanes. I think you are not crazy!

This speaks to a need for greater driver and passenger education about the lanes and looking before dooring. I'm working with some Chainlinkers on driver and cyclist focused education but we hadn't included the passenger focused information. 

Anyone know if CDOT is planning education on this?

Thanks!

Katie

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Permalink Reply by Mark on December 3, 2012 at 5:30am

I feel much safer in a buffered bike lane than being confined in a PBL.  My most frustrating experience was riding in the Church St. PBL in Evanston recently.  In 5 blocks, I twice had pedestrians start to cross in front of me on my green light, almost got hit by a car turning right that didn't see me - even in my hi-vis, and got pinned in by a chain of cars turning right waiting for pedestrians to cross.  BRING ON THE BUFFERED BIKE LANES!!

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