New protected bike lanes announced - Elston, 18th
Our team at the MBAC meeting just let us know that Elston (Division to North) and 18th (Clinton to Clark) will be the next protected bike lanes by the end of this year!
Thanks, CDOT!
Ethan Spotts, Active Trans
Views: 5023
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on
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Agreed.
To an uniformed motorist I can almost understand how they might think that the hashed-area is the bike lane and the open area to the edge is a parking lane. In many parts of the city the parking lane is denoted by just a solid white line.
On the other side it isn't quite as unclear but I could see where someone not familiar with the protected lane might be confused as to how the system worked. Parking in "the middle of the road" where they are supposed to seems alien at first.
Green bike lane surface would go a LONG way towards really communicating the intent -it is too bad it is so expensive because it is so rarely used. I'm only assuming it is expensive though. I'm sure it costs more than nothing, and probably a lot of folks think it is "an eyesore."
I just wish they would use it more.
Julie Hochstadter said:Well, to be honest, looking at the pictures you attached, they look like parking spaces to me :))
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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on
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Caught a motorcycle driving in the Elston bike lane yesterday. All kinds of illegal.
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As a life-long motorcyclist (was car-free for many years with only a motorcycle and bicycles,) and life-member of the American Motorcyclist Association, I would like to apologize for all the people riding motorcycles who infringe on bicycle infrastructure such as this guy in the picture.
While I'm at it I will apologize for the jerks with the loud mufflers and/or just drive around revving their engines to insane levels in a puerile attempt at self-aggrandizement. And also the jerks who think the streets are a racetrack or some sort of stunting exhibition.
I can't say if these folks are a minority or not but there are some of us who feel that automobiles are extremely wasteful and environmentally-unfriendly modes of transportation and that a motorcycle is a much better and earth-friendly alternative to single-rider transportation such as a car with only one occupant. They can form a longer-ranged alternative to bicycles when time and distance do not make them as feasible and when the correct motorcycle is chosen and driven in a sane and safe manner they get extremely good fuel economy and save a lot of greenhouse gasses. In the city I ride my bike, but when I head out of the city a motorcycle is a great way to save on the environmental impact of driving a car when Metra or other public transportation infrastructure is not available.
But it only takes a few bad apples like the selfish guy in this picture to ruin the image for the rest of us. And for him I feel the need to apologize.
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Permalink Reply by Gopher Biker on
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I seem to recall an episode of MythBusters where they indicated motorcycles actually do not emit less greenhouse gases. I seem to see more scooters than motorcycles zipping down the bike lanes, but there is the occasional motorcycle.
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Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on
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I don't see motorcycles in the lanes much, to be honest. Actually, I'm not sure I've ever seen it.
Scoters, vespas, etc. are a different story. Some interesting links:
http://www.welovedc.com/2010/09/28/dc-mythbusting-bike-lanes-are-ju...
https://www.transportationresearch.gov/dot/fhwa/ops/Lists/aDiscussi...
and Chicago (he includes some ordinances):
http://chicagobikelaw.blogspot.com/2008/07/motorcycles-and-moped-in...
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Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on
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The Dutch build something of much higher quality that lasts longer: red-dyed asphalt, or red-dyed brick. Brick may not seem like it's good to ride on. A majority of cycle tracks in Amsterdam are made of brick. They are easier to repair (when broken by tree roots or cracking, just replace the broken bricks) and when installed well, are comfortable to ride on (the Dutch also tend to ride with tires >32mm and with less air than seems optimal). The Dutch use asphalt mostly for inter-city paths, or side paths (cycle tracks that are separated from the main roadway by some distance, and not attached to a sidewalk like urban cycle tracks).
Daniel G said:Don't the Dutch just mix up green-colored asphalt for bike lanes instead of dumping hundreds of gallons of special paint onto them every few months? I'm going to take a flying leap and say that we here in the United States do not do civic projects well at all anymore compared to over there, and large projects usually fall to pessimism, parasitism, and rent-seeking/profiteering.
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I agree completely. It's great that one hand in CDOT (Bike Program) is talking to the other hand (the resurfacing group) in order to coordinate that.
Franklin Boulevard is another separated bike lane installed on very bad pavement this year.
Kelvin Mulcky said:That may be true, but if resurfacing is scheduled, it makes sense to hold off until the work is finished. That way the city isn't doing all the work twice in a short period of time.
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I did call him out on it. I yelled "dude, wtf?" at him, but I'm pretty sure his loud-ass motor muffled my yell.
Daniel G said:You've got to call this out each and every time you see it. If I could make out the plate I'd do it myself.
It's not cute, it's not a fun ad-hoc use of space. It's prickish and entitled and dangerous.
Fuck these guys, and the bros on their Vespas. G.T.F.O. is the only appropriate response to this. We are not two-wheeled homies and Harley riders routinely give me inches of space while passing in a way cars rarely do.
Adam Herstein said:Caught a motorcycle driving in the Elston bike lane yesterday. All kinds of illegal.
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A very good point Cameron.
I readily admit that the proportion of jerks on motorcycles is well beyond the "few bad apples" ratio that many others might might claim.
This can be seen by the types of motorcycles available for sale in the USA and the fact that engine displacement (thus worse mileage and emissions) has been steadily increasing. Just 20 years ago 750cc was considered a large-displacement motorcycle and the liter-class and above bikes were extremely rare. Now 1000cc is basically considered the minimum for any non-beginner bike and the horsepower and displacement goes up from there. Finding a <600cc bike that isn't a stripped-down entry-level toy is very hard in the USA. In the rest of the world this isn't the case. In Europe the majority of motorcycles are 250cc or smaller. These bikes can easily get 85MPH or better.
Let's compare apples/apples here. Comparing a Gold-wing or GSXR1800 to a Prius isn't fair. Compare them to a Hummer or a Lamborghini.
Cameron Puetz said:I've always felt that their mode of transportation has little impact on the probability of people behaving like self entitled idiots. However it's always that bad apples that you remember, except for "your" mode where our tribal tendencies make it easier to forgive. Therefore we tend to hate everyone who doesn't travel like us.
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on
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Aren't those all cabs and isn't that the cab garage or whatever they call it right there? Surely something can be done by contacting the people in charge there? Of course, I really have no understanding of how all of the "cab thing" works, so maybe not.
Gopher Biker said:5:25am Elston and Cortez
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Permalink Reply by Gerry G on
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A Streets & San smaller/narrow sweeper was parked on Elston at North Ave. So I asked the operator if his sweeper could fit between the curb and the white stop bar. He said he just runs'em over and they swing back up. 3 cheers!
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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on
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Kathy plates getting installed on the westbound side of the 18th St Bridge this morning!
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