Originally Posted by Pscyclepath

In January 2009 the League adopted an official policy which opposes state and local laws which discriminate against road use by cyclists, including local laws which require mandatory bike lane or side path use, or ridaing as far-to-the-right as practicable. See http://www.bikeleague.org/images/equ...nt_1-05-09.pdf and
http://www.bikeleague.org/images/equ...nov-dec_07.pdf. This policy will be incorporated into the League's review of cities for designation as "bicycle-friendly communities," and communities which have these rules will be expected to be seeking to get rid of them.

Bike lanes essentially serve as an encouragement method from the cyclists' aspect. Many cycling advocates like them because they perceive that it gives them a little piece of the roadway where the cars don't go. The cold truth is that cars go there all the time -- at every driveway, street crossing and intersection. At many intersections the lanes are striped all the way up to the stop line, placing the rider in a position where he/she is likely to get right-hooked,as well as encouraging riders to filter up past a line of stopped cars to put themselves in the same position. From the motorists, it gets those pesky, slow cyclists out of the way, and sadly, out of sight usually means "out of mind" as well, often with deadly results.