How to improve bike and pedestrian safety

[m@Robertson]

The intersection where that kid died in the title article... that was on my twice-daily commute when I started cycling to work after school in the 1970's; running down El Camino from Sunnyvale to Mountain View (Castro St). That stretch of El Camino is literally where I learned to get serious about daily utility cycling. Looking at Google Maps, the only difference is the streets have been widened by an additional lane on each side. No bike lanes then or now. That and the fact many of the 1- and 2-story shops are gone and replaced with 4-story apartments and condos. Bigger money and much higher population density. Grew up there, and no way in hell would I go back to live again.

 

[Slorider]

If you are meaning roads, bikes have a miniscule impact on roads. What damage do they cause? Meanwhile, heavy trucks and studded tires are the usual suspects, along with some poor low bid paving jobs.

Bike lanes? I'd pay like a ten dollar tax if they were ever built here. A bike lane is favorable to the whole commuting community if it is attractive and safe enough to get people out of cars and onto bikes. That relieves traffic congestion for those who must drive.

My only vehicle is a pickup. I have it to pull my travel trailer, which decreases my gas mileage, which isn't good for the planet either. It is easy to haul an ebike with a pickup.
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I do have little stick on flames which help the gas milage, I am sure. The duct tape freckle has also been replaced with a rivet.

I agree that big trucks cause some damage I doubt something like a pickup truck is going to wear the roads. The environment damages the roads more than anything. If humans instantly disappeared potholes would still happen. I think it’s more of a pay to upkeep scenario. I would gladly pay tax if it means I get access to a proper bicycle lane.

Nice camper by the way. I’ve always wanted one of those to travel with

 

[Slorider]

Absolutely. Don't forget all those freeloading pedestrians! Toll sidewalks, demand priced walk signals - you want to wait 5 minutes for the walk signal it's free. Reduce your wait to 90 seconds for a buck. Pay 2.50 and you can cross right now!

Don’t give them ideas

 

[Slorider]

1. Allow ebikes to go the urban speed limit and ride in the car lanes occupying full lane
2. Do not make bike lanes, let cars parallel park same as usual, so the usual pedestrian and driver culprits to watch for such as getting doored, or people stepping out , are on the right side, not both sides.
Save that construction and tax money for something that isn't regressive. Don't make us ride where the drain grates are. Let the cars park there, and get out of trying to control all aspects.

You can ride in the road where I live but you’re supposed to keep to the right. With my huge RadCity 5 I take up half the lane so most cars pass in the next lane. I’m not sure what you mean by urban speed limit but most of the roads in cities and towns near me are 35-45 MPH. I wouldn’t feel comfortable even going 35 MPH on my RadCity.

 

[tomjasz]

Wouldn’t this also apply to cyclists (electric and mechanical) who use the infrastructure but don’t pay fuel taxes?

You just wrote, “At least in the USA most people who own bicycles also own motorized vehicles.”
Bicycle infrastructure is significantly less costly. A local city council asshat used to constantly cry the same misguided tune. What’s the benefit of fewer junker cages and fewer uninsured cages on the road?

 

[tomjasz]

my travel trailer

Nice! Maker? Model?

Thanks!

 

[chunk]

If you are meaning roads, bikes have a miniscule impact on roads. What damage do they cause? Meanwhile, heavy trucks and studded tires are the usual suspects, along with some poor low bid paving jobs.

Bike lanes? I'd pay like a ten dollar tax if they were ever built here. A bike lane is favorable to the whole commuting community if it is attractive and safe enough to get people out of cars and onto bikes. That relieves traffic congestion for those who must drive.

My only vehicle is a pickup. I have it to pull my travel trailer, which decreases my gas mileage, which isn't good for the planet either. It is easy to haul an ebike with a pickup.
View attachment 121271
I do have little stick on flames which help the gas milage, I am sure. The duct tape freckle has also been replaced with a rivet.

That trailer looks like a Fiber Stream.

 

[PatriciaK]

We pay extra at yearly registration time in WA because we drive a Prius.

When we lived in Italy, they had a yearly road tax (not gas tax) that was based on the size of the engine of the automobile, and, if I remember correctly, the number of miles driven the previous year. Perhaps we could move to something like this in the US, to make usage taxes more equitable. Have a minimum tax everyone pays, and then those putting more miles on our roads with larger vehicles pay more on top of that.

I also don't understand the need to own something that's only going to be used occasionally. I would think that, compared to the purchase price and maintenance of a large SUV or truck, it would be much more economical to just drive a smaller vehicle, and rent a larger one when needed. Makes more sense to me than a single person driving a big expensive vehicle on a daily basis because "sometimes" they actually need it. Our roads would be a lot safer for everyone if most vehicles in them were smaller.

 

[PatriciaK]

 

[Cowlitz]

Nice! Maker? Model?

Thanks!

It's a Casita Spirit Deluxe. The deluxe means it has a bathroom. It's my glamper. In the summer, I keep it ready to go in case we have a big wind blowing a fire this way. It's ten years old. I bought it used and am now waiting for a replacement refrigerator. I fear I'll be buying ice and cooler camping on any trips this year.

They say the trailer weighs 2400 pounds "dry". My Tacoma pulls it fine. On a long trip last year, I was seeing 20 mpg on the readout through much of N. Dakota--going east. I had a heck of a tailwind. Unfortunately, the wind did not change direction for my trip home and the readout was saying 10 to 12 mpg through the same area. It's very compact inside but has a usable shower!

I feel guilty having it and the pickup.

 

[chunk]

My Fiber Stream in the background and tow vehicle in front. I do about 3,000 miles a year in the Toyota and the rest on my motorcycles and e bike. Even at only 1800 lbs or so, it's too much for the e bike to tow.

 

[Ken M]

Our community is starting to add bike lanes; takes a while to get it done.

When I ride my bike, just like when I rode a motorcycle, I assume everyone is out to get me.

My perception is many bicycle incidents have a big "bike rider fault" component because bikers think they own rather than share the road. Hate to say it, but the tragic accident described in the story was the riders fault; "he rode alongside a construction truck waiting at the light to turn right". Yes it would be nice if all roads were more bike friendly, but they are not, and bikers need to protect themselves or suffer the consequences when they don't follow the rules of the road they share.

Experience shows there is usually a route that avoids faster roads. I also don't give up the lane at intersections at stop lights/signs and don't pass vehicles at stops. . . that's how you get hurt.

I rode a motorcycle for many years and now ride an ebike frequently. I have always ridden assuming that drivers simply do not see me. That can dramatically reduce your risk on two wheels. I have friends that have been seriously injured in motorcycle accidents and I do believe they could have avoided the accident even though the cause may have been the auto driver. Even if the auto driver's fault if you are on two wheels you will suffer the most so you MUST protect yourself as your pointed out but paying more attention.

 

[PedalUma]

bike everywhere when winter comes and it’s snowing and freezing.

I neglected that. Wow, I am so fortunate to live in a place where we can bike every day in Coastal Northern California. The worst we get is a little hail and that is invigorating while riding a bike path to the train station. Buses all have bike racks but you need to remove the battery first which is easy on a bike like this because it fits into a standard water bottle cage.

 

[Handlebars]

I have always ridden assuming that drivers simply do not see me. That can dramatically reduce your risk on two wheels.

Absolutely. But a different kind of trouble begins if they do see you; you're riding far to the right and moderate traffic is moving in both directions. Drivers see you and begin to worry about where they are on the road, and they direct themselves to the middle of the lane...CLOSER to you, maybe half a foot closer- and when past, you can see them immediately move back out a bit. Over and over, that is the way it goes. Normal people worry about getting hit head-on and that thought takes over, especially when trucks are close.

 

[Cowlitz]

Winter commute in Sweden. They have good bike infrastructure there.

 

[tomjasz]

I am so fortunate to live in a place where we can bike every day in Coastal Northern California.

We can bike every day in Minnesnowta too. I just wear a few more clothes than you. I ride every day when there are clear streets. Some winters that's nearly every day, other winters It can be weeks between thawed streets days. The tricycle will make for more winter riding days regardless of snow and ice. But below 20F ends ALL riding.

 

[tomjasz]

Winter commute in Sweden. They have good bike infrastructure there.

Finland too. A school bicycle parking.

 

[tomjasz]

 

[PatriciaK]

Finland too. A school bicycle parking.

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We're so wimpy, compared to the rest of the world !

 

[PedalUma]

We're so wimpy, compared to the rest of the world !

Your video was great. I highly recommend it.