Intentional or accidental?

Found this all along Milwaukee's "protected" bike lane. Sad to see a continuing disregard for cyclists and our cycling infrastructure or what meager portions we are allowed.

Views: 787

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on January 19, 2014 at 7:50pm

I believe this was "intentional." Whether CDOT or Streets & Sanitation has responsibility this year, I think one or both finally recognized the flaw of the plastic bollard design as it relates to snow removal. I'd rather have plowed bike lanes than plastic bollards. CDOT/Streets and San seems to have realized we can't have both. These appear to have been snapped off by plows. 

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on January 19, 2014 at 8:06pm

ISTR they have small equipment for use in bike lanes. Are they getting enough miles of protected bike lanes that they have to use larger equipment perhaps?

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on January 20, 2014 at 1:53am

Agree--but from the picture it appears they did not plow the bike lanes. :-)  


Kevin C said:

I believe this was "intentional." Whether CDOT or Streets & Sanitation has responsibility this year, I think one or both finally recognized the flaw of the plastic bollard design as it relates to snow removal. I'd rather have plowed bike lanes than plastic bollards. CDOT/Streets and San seems to have realized we can't have both. These appear to have been snapped off by plows. 

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on January 20, 2014 at 4:20am

We definitely can't have both. Sometimes we can't have either.

Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

Agree--but from the picture it appears they did not plow the bike lanes. :-)  


Kevin C said:

I believe this was "intentional." Whether CDOT or Streets & Sanitation has responsibility this year, I think one or both finally recognized the flaw of the plastic bollard design as it relates to snow removal. I'd rather have plowed bike lanes than plastic bollards. CDOT/Streets and San seems to have realized we can't have both. These appear to have been snapped off by plows. 

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on January 20, 2014 at 5:09am

Likely someone ran them over with a snow plow.

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on January 20, 2014 at 7:31am

I'd think a plow would have mangled them a bit more.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on January 20, 2014 at 7:33am

I think you may be onto something...



h' 1.0 said:

Near as I can tell from the picture, I'd guess that something caused them to be detatched from the ground.

Permalink Reply by Liz on January 20, 2014 at 8:09am

This is where I think that buffered lanes are a little better, there isn't a requirement for special equipment to come down the street to plow.  

Granted this year the plowing on all streets appears to be sub par.  I'm extremely surprised at the lack of towing and plowing of the official plow routes (Belmont, Irving Park, Ashland) 

Kevin C said:

I believe this was "intentional." Whether CDOT or Streets & Sanitation has responsibility this year, I think one or both finally recognized the flaw of the plastic bollard design as it relates to snow removal. I'd rather have plowed bike lanes than plastic bollards. CDOT/Streets and San seems to have realized we can't have both. These appear to have been snapped off by plows. 

Permalink Reply by Duppie on January 20, 2014 at 8:09am

Anything think that this might be caused by a snow plow?

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on January 20, 2014 at 8:11am

I disagree. The benefits of increased safety greatly outweigh the costs of the special plows. Protected bike lanes are far safer and are going to attract far more riders than a buffered lane. The issue of snow can easily be solved with smaller plow trucks – this is how cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen keep their bike lanes clear. The solution should not be to install bike lanes that have been proven to be less safe.

Liz said:

This is where I think that buffered lanes are a little better, there isn't a requirement for special equipment to come down the street to plow.  

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on January 20, 2014 at 8:24am

Yes, but good luck finding out and proving who did it. Are there any cameras in the area? Whoever did it should be forced to pour concrete for a curb-separated bike lane to take the place of the currently bollard-protected one. :-)

h' 1.0 said:

Aside from all that, it sounds like we have an act of vandalism on our hands by a disgruntled city worker.

Should't there be consequences?
 

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on January 20, 2014 at 8:25am

Using the plow to remove the snow and bollards, perhaps the city crew is making way for the new  protected bike lane? 

Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

Yes, but good luck finding out and proving who did it. Are there any cameras in the area? Whoever did it should be forced to pour concrete for a curb-separated bike lane to take the place of the currently bollard-protected one. :-)

h' 1.0 said:

Aside from all that, it sounds like we have an act of vandalism on our hands by a disgruntled city worker.

Should't there be consequences?
 

RSS

Groups

© 2008-2016   The Chainlink Community, L.L.C.   Powered by

Disclaimer  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service