I like bike lanes because they semi-guarantee some space to ride, but in a way they kind of give motorists license to complain when bicyclists ride in the main lanes. Often times it makes more sense to ride in the lane occupied by cars, despite there being a bike lane, for example if the bike lane is in a dooring zone thanks to people parking on the street, and there is heavy traffic. Ideally the speed limit should be 10 miles per hour or lower in all urban areas, to drive home the fact that the roads are dual-use for motored and non-motored vehicles. Going the bike lane route, cities would benefit greatly from either banning or upping the costs prohibitively for on-street parking, requiring people who choose to drive to park their vehicles and walk from the parking lot or garage, and reducing heart disease and obesity. Obesity has recently been shown to be (causally?) linked with severe brain dysfunction, so perhaps people who are increasingly less obese will also make better decisions about transportation.<br>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 12:37 PM, Silivrenion <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:silivrenion@gmail.com">silivrenion@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
If the bike lane was only on one side of the street, there would have to be an elaborate bicycle lane merging system to move people from one side of the street to the other legally with the flow of traffic. Some people actually do like riding on the legally correct side of the road, after all.<div>
<br></div><div>The other concern I have is for freight -- I am a freight bicyclist. I carry trailers full of cargo at ~30mph in the bike lane. You'd be surprised how much help inertia is! Anyway, with a two-direction bike lane, there would have to be a clear delineation between inbound/outbound bicycle traffic. If I'm hauling half a ton of cargo, I can't stop very suddenly -- think of a train barreling down train tracks. Bicyclists who pop out on the wrong lane will get a nasty surprise if they don't pay attention.</div>
<div><br></div><div>I like the idea of bicycle lanes on either side of Comm ave, with arrows marking the direction of proper bicycle flow. Not only would this reduce the chance of a dumb bicyclists attempting a head-on collision with a freight bike, but it would encourage traffic to be more accepting of bicycles as part of regular traffic.</div>
<div><br clear="all">--------------------<br>Angela Morley<br>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">2009/8/27 Rob Arnold <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:rsarnold@gmail.com" target="_blank">rsarnold@gmail.com</a>></span><div><div></div><div class="h5"><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
That works until you have to bike home.<div><div></div><div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 11:52 AM, Andrew Maddox <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:andrewmad@gmail.com" target="_blank">andrewmad@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">Only allow parking on one side of the street to allow the other for a bike lane. COMPROMISE.<div>
<div></div><div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 11:49 AM, rob levy <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:r.p.levy@gmail.com" target="_blank">r.p.levy@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">If the city was smart they would do away with on-street parking altogether. <br><div><div>
</div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote">
On Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 10:30 AM, Ari Pollak <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ajp@aripollak.com" target="_blank">ajp@aripollak.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">Is there a better solution than a bike lane like they pictured? That<br>
entire stretch of Comm Ave is lined with parked cars, people are<br>
double-parking there constantly, and the lanes seem pretty narrow<br>
already. Will adding a bike lane make people slow down? What about just<br>
shifting the lane markings over a bit and adding "share the road" markings?<br>
<div><br>
<a href="mailto:thom3@aol.com" target="_blank">thom3@aol.com</a> wrote:<br>
> -----Original Message-----<br>
> From: Seiderman, Cara <<a href="mailto:cseiderman@cambridgema.gov" target="_blank">cseiderman@cambridgema.gov</a>><br>
> To: '<a href="mailto:cbikecomm@googlegroups.com" target="_blank">cbikecomm@googlegroups.com</a>' <<a href="mailto:cbikecomm@googlegroups.com" target="_blank">cbikecomm@googlegroups.com</a>><br>
> Sent: Tue, Aug 25, 2009 5:06 pm<br>
> Subject: FW: Comm Ave Bike Lane meeting Aug 31st.<br>
><br>
> FYI, and to forward to friends in Boston<br>
><br>
> *From:*<br>
> *Subject:* Comm Ave Bike Lane meeting Aug 31st.<br>
><br>
> There's an important meeting coming up where the city will propose<br>
> installing bike lanes on Comm Ave from Kenmore to the Public Garden.<br>
> The meeting is on 8/31 at 6PM at the BPL.<br>
> Cyclists are encouraged to attend, especially if you live in the<br>
> neighborhood!<br>
><br>
> Details:<br>
> Monday, August 31, 2009<br>
> 6:00 PM<br>
> Boston Public Library Central Branch<br>
> Mezzanine Conference Room<br>
> 700 Boylston Street<br>
><br>
> Please see and circulate the attached flier for details.<br>
><br>
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