First off, I should note that I am not opposed to the idea of bike lanes or even most bike lanes in practice.
But here in downtown Madison, they restriped the capitol square after putting in 27 unnecessary parking spaces (http://www.madison.com/wsj/opinion/edits/index.php?ntid=39396). The new lanes include a narrow bike lane nestled between a general lane on the left and a dedicated bus/right turn lane on the right. The problem is that all these lanes are so narrow that practically every vehicle driving on the road is partly in the bike line, which is none too generous to begin with.
Today after work, I think I'm going to go up there and ride laps for about an hour as a form of malicious compliance (http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?MaliciousCompliance). If that's the city's idea of bike facilities, then at my own peril, I'm going to use it just to make the issue visible. Actually, it will be like a moving obstacle course adventure. ADVENTURE!!! :p
Anyway, I'm just telling everyone so someone will know what happened if I'm never heard from again.
ofofhy
05-11-05, 01:21 PM
You should try to get a number of people to do it. Sort of a critical mass in protest of the loss of bike lane width, but rather than taking up the entire road, stick only to the designated bike lane. Have flyers ready to handout, and let the city council know what you are doing. You may need a permit, maybe not if you restrict yourselves to the bike lane. I am sure there are a few Madison commuters here.
Roody
05-11-05, 01:24 PM
I vote with the CM approach. Individual actions are rarely effective. "One against the machine" and all that! Even a few friends would be better than none. Maybe you could organize some of your fellow commuters. If the bike lane is as bad as you say, others will be upset about it also.
recursive
05-11-05, 01:33 PM
At least a few others are upset. Here are two threads on the local paper forums I found about the issue, started totally independently apparently:
I will think about doing something more organized, but I am pretty sure I am going up there after work today as well.
Roody
05-11-05, 01:45 PM
Maybe others on the forum will see this and join you.
ofofhy
05-11-05, 01:48 PM
Maybe others on the forum will see this and join you.
Usually a Friday afternoon is best for something like this. When everyone is wanting to get home for the weekend. Post over in the "Commuting" forum too.
Roody
05-11-05, 02:10 PM
And put the name of your city in the thread title.
recursive
05-11-05, 02:56 PM
And put the name of your city in the thread title.
Well, if you're referring to this thread, the title can't be changed.
If you're referring to the proposed thread in commuting, I'll refrain from cross-posting for the moment.
atbman
05-11-05, 03:37 PM
Minimum viable width for a bike lane is 1.5m. If there isn't room for that, I stress minimum, width, then cyclists are better off without it.
Isn't there a set of cycling facilities design guidelines anywhere in the US?
Chris L
05-11-05, 03:48 PM
Today after work, I think I'm going to go up there and ride laps for about an hour as a form of malicious compliance (http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?MaliciousCompliance). If that's the city's idea of bike facilities, then at my own peril, I'm going to use it just to make the issue visible. Actually, it will be like a moving obstacle course adventure. ADVENTURE!!! :p
One word: Don't. If you start using it, they might be encouraged to build more "facilities" of that standard.
randya
05-11-05, 06:56 PM
Minimum viable width for a bike lane is 1.5m. If there isn't room for that, I stress minimum, width, then cyclists are better off without it.
Isn't there a set of cycling facilities design guidelines anywhere in the US?
http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/HTM/2003/part9/part9-toc.htm#chapter9c
Not sure if these federal standards include minimum widths for bike lanes (the links on this web page to the individual chapters weren't opening for me), which may in fact be left to the individual state and local transportation agencies. In Oregon, I think the state standard for minimum bike lane width is 6' and the City of Portland standard is 5', but that doesn't mean that substandard width facilities aren't constructed either occassionally or frequently...
recursive
05-12-05, 08:18 AM
One word: Don't. If you start using it, they might be encouraged to build more "facilities" of that standard.
I doubt that will be the case. If anyone uses this bike lane, it probably frustrates everyone on the road.
I went up last night for about an hour. I tried to be as strictly legal as possible. I didn't run any lights or do anything unpredictable, (except the necessary evasive manuevers when I was being squeezed out of the lane) just like I usually do. Using this bike lane usually slows all the users of the road down, or makes them thread a narrow gap, since just about every vehicle on the road is at least partly in the bike lane because the lanes are too narrow. If there was a car on my left, I rode toward the left boundary of the bike lane, which makes it difficult and probably impossible for wider vehicles to get through. My reasoning is that if I don't "defend my territory" the other vehicles will occupy part of the bike lane, making it even narrower. I saw at least a dozen other cyclists while I was there.
I would not be at all surprised if there were some complaints to relevant city departments as a direct result of my riding.
I think I might have underestimated a bit with my 3 foot estimate. But not by much, I don't think it's more than 4 feet.
PS It was actually kind of fun. If you enjoy danger like I do that is.
AndrewP
05-12-05, 08:26 AM
When you do your 1 man CM, carry a step ladder across your bike rack.