Research finds painted bike lanes can lead to closer calls with cars

T

Timpo

Well-Known Member
Painted lanes lead to closer calls with Vehicles colliding with other vehicles, so Bikes ... ? Yeah, well hopefully we Don't get in their Way !! ?
 
Of course. We don't have to read those links to believe what we see with our own lying eyes, to paraphrase Marx (Groucho).

I don't often ride in painted bike lanes, but don't you hate it when they have to move it in the middle of a street so they can keep a right turn lane for cars.trucks.
 
harryS said:
I don't often ride in painted bike lanes, but don't you hate it when they have to move it in the middle of a street so they can keep a right turn lane for cars.trucks.
Click to expand...

I hate it even more when I have to get up on the sidewalk and then fight to get eye contact with the right-turners so I can go across the intersection; Denver loves to put ped/bike signals on far side of posts on sidewalks. I'd rather have the separate bike lane.
 
Given how I've seen painted bike lanes abused by motorists and sometimes pedestrians this isn't hardly surprising.
 
With a class 3 s pedelc is safer to ride in the car lane . Most cities have a 25 /30mph limit.
 
harryS said:
Of course. We don't have to read those links to believe what we see with our own lying eyes, to paraphrase Marx (Groucho).

I don't often ride in painted bike lanes, but don't you hate it when they have to move it in the middle of a street so they can keep a right turn lane for cars.trucks.
Click to expand...

I suspect that is where many of the accident occur but any biker with a rear view mirror can verify they have clearance to continue past the car turn lane. I always pay special attention at these locations to make sure cars are not just going to come right across over me. Too many bikers think that just having the right of way means they will not be hit. That is arrogant thinking that gets bikers killed. Sure it may not be your fault but a bike against a car never wins in an accident.
 
Ian Moone said:
Yep, Gotta ride Defensive , since Motorists have No Mercy for Anything with two wheels ! ??
Click to expand...

I think they have mercy, they just lack the intellectual capacity to pay attention. I think if more people actually spent some time on two wheels they may realize how important paying attention is.
 
Ken M said:
I think they have mercy, they just lack the intellectual capacity to pay attention. I think if more people actually spent some time on two wheels they may realize how important paying attention is.
Click to expand...
Exactly ! IF they spent more time on Two wheels, then they might realize it can be More fun than four wheels lol !
 
I stopped riding motorcycles because of the constant news regarding left turns by cars and trucks made in front of them resulting in the car being T boned by the motorcycle. If car drivers can't see a motorcycle, what do you figure your chances are on a bike?

Nope. No mixed traffic of any sort for me. I just can't relax, and if I can't relax, I'm either staying home or riding elsewhere.....

Painted lines = wishful thinking and or naivete on the part of engineers that use them.
 
This is more about paying attention than anything else. We use painted lines to keep opposite direction traffic apart so it can keep bikers safe if drivers are paying attention. When I commute to work on my ebike I have about 5 miles each way that I'm in road side bike lane on a street where cars are traveling at 35-45mph and I feel fairly safe. I do very frequently look in my rear view mirror for any vehicle that may be sliding over into the bike lane and I have a very high quality rear light that has an irregular flashing pattern that is intended to get driver's attention day and night. I'm shocked that most of the other bikers I see don't have a rear view mirror or a rear light and many of those are spandexters or high-end road bikes that seem to have this attitude that they own the road. They tend to ride much closer to the car-side edge of the bike lane as well. I undertstand that drivers should be paying attention but why no do everything rationally possible to be safe when riding a bike near drivers.
 
Ken, you gotta do what ya gotta do when commuting. I get that. When it's voluntary though, when you're there because you feel like it, that's another matter. An older friend of mine was riding in a "bike lane" on his way to a trail. Been on that section of road hundreds of times. This day though, a car wandered close enough where it's mirror clipped my buddy's handlebar mirror, sending him into a ditch. Probably wouldn't have been too big a deal for younger folks, but Ken is north of 70, riding to keep his health. He didn't fare so well. Cost him an entire summer and most of fall to recuperate. He thought he could deal with the cars too. Now convinced otherwise, he now loads the bike onto a car rack for it's couple mile trip to the trail head.
 
AHicks said:
Ken, you gotta do what ya gotta do when commuting. I get that. When it's voluntary though, when you're there because you feel like it, that's another matter. An older friend of mine was riding in a "bike lane" on his way to a trail. Been on that section of road hundreds of times. This day though, a car wandered close enough where it's mirror clipped my buddy's handlebar mirror, sending him into a ditch. Probably wouldn't have been too big a deal for younger folks, but Ken is north of 70, riding to keep his health. He didn't fare so well. Cost him an entire summer and most of fall to recuperate. He thought he could deal with the cars too. Now convinced otherwise, he now loads the bike onto a car rack for it's couple mile trip to the trail head.
Click to expand...

Sorry to here about Ken's accident. Ironically my name is Ken and just prior to Thanksgiving I a light freezing rain coated a wooden bridge on the bike trail part of my ride and I went down at about 22mph and my head went immediately into a post. This resulted in 3 cervical fractures with one of them considered unstable by degree and some nerve damage with my right arm (I was wearing a helmet it it most likely saved me from an even worse result). In reality I'm lucky that I'm walking but still have some healing and a possible future surgery to straighten me out. A few weeks ago I started riding a recumbent (planning to install a ebike kit on this bike to begin commuting again this month). I can't look up very well yet so this is my best option to get back on a bike.

I share this because I actually never thought I would have an accident like this entirely due to me. I had been down a few times in minor wrecks and certainly had a few close calls with cars cutting me off but it is a bit risky to ride an ebike or traditional bike regardless. If the post wouldn't have been there I would have just slid out and got right back up and I'm 58 so I was both lucky and unlucky - lucky to not be a quadriplegic per a neurological assessment but unlucky that I was still injured very severely. I will learn from my mistake and hopefully be safer on all future riding.

I hope your friend has a complete recovery and continue to ride.
 
Ken, my buddy's story did end up OK. He's still riding and is just as ornery and cranky as an old man has a right to be. Actually, the reason he's using his car rack so often anymore has a lot to do with his wife...... a very sharp lady I would not want to cross!

Best of luck on your recovery! -Al
 
AHicks said:
Ken, my buddy's story did end up OK. He's still riding and is just as ornery and cranky as an old man has a right to be. Actually, the reason he's using his car rack so often anymore has a lot to do with his wife...... a very sharp lady I would not want to cross!

Best of luck on your recovery! -Al
Click to expand...
"You have to ride like everyone and everything is trying to kill you at all times". I might add this includes ones self.
 
No to all! you got your license out of a corn flakes box, it is what it it is. My neighbor has hits on all 4 sides of the car, i passed her while she had her head turned talking to people in the back seat. I watched a girl text while leaving the parking lot here, kids everywhere, just got out of school, your not that important!
There is no physical barrier from brain cramp
 
Ken M said:
This is more about paying attention than anything else. We use painted lines to keep opposite direction traffic apart so it can keep bikers safe if drivers are paying attention. When I commute to work on my ebike I have about 5 miles each way that I'm in road side bike lane on a street where cars are traveling at 35-45mph and I feel fairly safe. I do very frequently look in my rear view mirror for any vehicle that may be sliding over into the bike lane and I have a very high quality rear light that has an irregular flashing pattern that is intended to get driver's attention day and night. I'm shocked that most of the other bikers I see don't have a rear view mirror or a rear light and many of those are spandexters or high-end road bikes that seem to have this attitude that they own the road. They tend to ride much closer to the car-side edge of the bike lane as well. I undertstand that drivers should be paying attention but why no do everything rationally possible to be safe when riding a bike near drivers.
Click to expand...
I live out in a suburban California community that was designed around the car, but has made some effort to retrofit for bikes, including our Pacific Electric trail, which is almost like a bike freeway.
Unfortunately their other idea of a bike lane is to paint a 3 foot wide stripe on a 6 lane arterial road and call that a “bike lane”. Enjoy your ride as buses and semis whiz along at 55 mph about 3 feet away from you. All but the most hard core bikers use the sidewalk, since nobody walks there anyway, and no one with any sense would use those bike lanes. Not only is it unsafe, it’s unpleasant.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
30mph dockless share bike
Replies
8
Views
3K
pnop
P
Admin
The Environmental Cost of Electric Bikes vs. Cars and Motorcycles
Replies
1
Views
21K
Admin
Admin
C
How Much Cardio Can You Get From Electric Bikes?
2 3 4
Replies
73
Views
22K
AzDave
AzDave
C
Choosing the Right Electric Bike For You
Replies
5
Views
7K
brooklynboy64
brooklynboy64
E
Bikes and Cars Can Coexist. Book Demonstrates How, Despite its Misleading Title
Replies
4
Views
3K
john peck
john peck
Back