The American approach to all things is trying to make all interactions defined by pages of rules and barriers, all enforced by the police.
A better idea might be common sense and bicycle rider education: ride in the middle, pay attention to what is behind you, get to the side if a car is behind you, don't get upset if the car behind you honks to get you out of the way.
As to the bike lanes, they work for people moving slow like an adult with some kids riding with them.
Or maybe not, in NYC there has been at least one ghost bike devoted to an escorted child that got killed on a bike path.
In NYC I am seeing bike paths marked by a bicyclist symbol some arrow heads but no painted line path markings. I think that is better.
Last edited by geo8rge; 09-04-09 at 12:57 PM.