Comments for John S. Allen's Bicycle Blog

Comment on Two ways to cross a street by jsallen

jsallen — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:36:42 +0000

Something sort of like shared-lane markings. Is it a bike lane? Is it a bike box? You might have a look at Richard's and my video of the similar installation at Jefferson and 7th in Phoenix , which goes into more detail.

Comment on Mandatory sidepath laws, state by state by Ian Brett Cooper

Ian Brett Cooper — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:10:03 +0000

Hi John,
Have you considered making a similar post about mandatory bike lane use? As a cyclist in Maryland, where bike path use is still mandatory, and knowing how dangerous some of the bike lanes here are, I’m constantly torn between my desire to stay safe and my desire to follow the law. Naturally, safety wins out, but whenever I come across a bike lane, I have to make a mental note to try to find a different route.

Comment on Report from Seville by Adriana

Adriana — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:48:33 +0000

They may be disasterous by engineering standards, but having visited Seville recently, it would be hard to urgue that they the are disasterous in their outcome. A brief walk or drive along the corridors quickly shows that there are *alot* of people using them.

I think the effect is similar to small winding mountain highways and Seville’s downtown labyrinth of impossibly narrow medieval streets – everyone (drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists) excercises extreme caution and awareness… and it works.

Comment on Two ways to cross a street by Steve A

Steve A — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:40:32 +0000

Were those sharrow symbols in the bike lane as it became a “sorta crosswalk/bike lane?”

Comment on Mandatory sidepath laws, state by state by Ben

Ben — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:47:30 +0000

Don’t get too excited about Arkansas… The city of Fayetteville has a mandatory sidepath ordinance. (73.04) I’m not sure where or how it applies, but it puts a foul taste in my mouth.

Comment on About the Austin, Texas bike box study by John Brooking

John Brooking — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:45:40 +0000

One comment I would make on the paradigm shift analysis: While it’s true that it is the local government which is implementing and evaluating this installation (and other bicycle facilities), because only the government (local and sometimes state) is allowed to design and build public roads, it’s important to understand, as I know you do, that they are doing this as a result of pressure from the public and even more directly from bikeway professionals who are in favor of (and make their living by promoting and consulting on) such a paradigm change. As you note, it is ultimately the bikeway advocates who are pushing for this shift, modeling the facilities on European models, but without the other European legal, educational, and cultural context. So it is somewhat of a public groundswell, not quite a government-conceived effort, but unfortunately, bikeway advocates and road right advocates among the public have as yet been largely unsuccessful in being able to carry on a rational discussion of the merits and drawbacks of each model.

Comment on About the Austin colored bike lane marking report by InvisibleHand

InvisibleHand — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 16:05:46 +0000

Thanks for the reviews John.

I never read about Franklin’s rationale for the routing.

Comment on About the Austin Bicycles May Use Full Lane report by Steve A

Steve A — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 12:02:15 +0000

Per their odd definitions, “encroachment” does not occur I’d the motorist makes a full lane change to pass; only if the motorist makes a straddle pass. Once that definition is accepted (or at least understood), the conclusions make more sense and are consistent with the results of G/DeS. Namely that curb hugging encourages in-lane passes even in a narrow lane, and that the motorist makes at least a partial lane change (partial being defined as encroachment) when the cyclist is further left. Full lane control eliminates the “encroachment,” as overtaking motorists switch to full lane changes.

In my own riding, partial lane changes (encroachment) are rare enough that I find each to be at least notable, even though those partial lane changes don’t run afoul of any of the newly fashionable “passing distance” laws. Riding on the right side of the left tire track still allows for a straddle pass with “legal” clearance, but few motorists attempt straddle passes when the cyclist is so riding.

Comment on About the Austin, Texas bike box study by About the Austin Bicycles May Use Full Lane report | John S. Allen's Bicycle Blog

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 02:52:40 +0000

[...] John S. Allen's Bicycle Blog John S. Allen comments on bicycling issues Skip to content Bicycling photo albums ← About the Austin, Texas bike box study [...]

Comment on Review of the Austin shared-lane marking report by About the Austin Bicycles May Use Full Lane report | John S. Allen's Bicycle Blog

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 02:48:00 +0000

[...] is not surprising that the shared-lane marking study conducted at the same time as this study (and which I also have reviewed) showed more success in changing cyclists’ behavior, because shared-lane markings are [...]