Do bike lanes cause motorists to look for cyclists?

[SingingSabre]

Good bike lanes like that are the norm around here. We don't have as complicated of streets as Bek does, so our bike lanes aren't as complex, but they are as usually well-placed. Our bike lanes are part of a comprehensive bicycle transportation network that also includes bikeways, bridges, and bikepaths. They are designed not to put cyclists out of the way but to facilitate them getting to and from the destinations that people need to go.

The only people against bike facilities in my area are people who want all bikes off the road and roads to be for cars only. They call themselves "Cars are Basic."

Very interesting. I wish Tucson could get some nice bike lanes like that around the campus and at some of the sketchier sections of roadways. However, I don't see how they could be put in at some of the more dangerous locations...hmm.

"Cars are Basic" sounds like a bunch of goonturds... Grr.

[Novakane]

From personal experience, the cycle lanes keep cars from cutting in too close, mainly because it's an extra white line for them to aim between. However, I'm not entirely sure that constitutes actually being more aware of the cyclists on the other side of the line at any given point in time.

I was in a bike lane once and almost smushed by a gi-normous RV that saw the bike lane as extra passing space around another large vehicle, regardless of the bicycle they where cutting off/into (ie, me).

Come to think of it, another thing is that bicycle lane disapears further up the road without warning into a two lane on-ramp for a 4-series highway just before an intersection.
For non-Canadians, FYI this is a no-go zone for cyclists and pedestrians - several lanes of traffic moving at a minimum 100kph (60mph) with no safe shoulder.

The result of this is having to make two left-hand lane changes in busy traffic in a very short space - so far I've been lucky and caught a traffic break each time. It must be confusing to drivers and cyclists alike to have this kind of layout, but it abounds around my area and makes me wonder why they bothered with the cycle lanes they provided. I can't see that it's any safer to give a lane where drivers expect it and therefore might expect the cyclist, then take it away so the cyclist is now sharing the same lane with the drivers - or worse, switching lanes because the cyclist has abruptly ran out of lane he/she can legally ride in.

[patc]

Come to think of it, another thing is that bicycle lane disapears further up the road without warning into a two lane on-ramp for a 4-series highway just before an intersection.
For non-Canadians, FYI this is a no-go zone for cyclists and pedestrians - several lanes of traffic moving at a minimum 100kph (60mph) with no safe shoulder.

What location is this? I'm in Ottawa too.

[Novakane]

What location is this? I'm in Ottawa too.

I don't have a map handy to 100% verify the intersections, but it's on March Road, coming out of the Kanata area between Carling Ave. and Eagleson. The bike lane just ends going into the 417 on-ramp with no warning. I very rarely need to go this way, only if I'm going somewhere in the Kanata area since Terry Fox Dr. is all torn up.

[Bikepacker67]

"Cars are Basic" sounds like a bunch of goonturds... Grr.

Yup.... (http://www.carsarebasic.org/cab.htm)


No matter your personal preferences, more Americans prefer life in the fast lane. For them.....

C_ars


A_re


B_asic

So get outta the way!

[patc]

I don't have a map handy to 100% verify the intersections, but it's on March Road, coming out of the Kanata area between Carling Ave. and Eagleson. The bike lane just ends going into the 417 on-ramp with no warning. I very rarely need to go this way, only if I'm going somewhere in the Kanata area since Terry Fox Dr. is all torn up.

I don't get out there much, but will check it out at some point if I get the chance. The former cities of Kanata and Nepean were infamous in the sub-standard bike lanes they implemented.

[patc]

I don't get out there much, but will check it out at some point if I get the chance. The former cities of Kanata and Nepean were infamous in the sub-standard bike lanes they implemented.

Found it on the bike map (2003 edition). Sure enough it shows the bike lanes (black lines along road) ending just before the 417, with an orange dot aroung the intersection showing it as a dangerous spot :rolleyes: .

If you want to complain about it, call 311, make sure you get an incident number. Then call your local city councillor - it is an election year, great time to make things happen.

http://clients.patcroteau.com/pat/march417.gif

[Novakane]

Found it on the bike map (2003 edition). Sure enough it shows the bike lanes (black lines along road) ending just before the 417, with an orange dot aroung the intersection showing it as a dangerous spot :rolleyes: .

If you want to complain about it, call 311, make sure you get an incident number. Then call your local city councillor - it is an election year, great time to make things happen.

http://clients.patcroteau.com/pat/march417.gif

Yup. I was actually unaware there was a bicycle lane in the first place until I rode it the first time... (I'd consulted Google Earth rather than a regular map)
Not entirely sure what a solution to the problem would be, given the road layout and how busy it is during rush hour. I think the best they could do is put up a warning sign ahead of the path ending?

[patc]

Yup. I was actually unaware there was a bicycle lane in the first place until I rode it the first time... (I'd consulted Google Earth rather than a regular map)
Not entirely sure what a solution to the problem would be, given the road layout and how busy it is during rush hour. I think the best they could do is put up a warning sign ahead of the path ending?

Hard to say without seeing the intersection myself. The bike map is a rough approximation of the streets, no real help when it comes to actual lane placements. Some ideas:

Short term- mark "bike lane end in XXm" or "bike lane ends at XX road" very clearly and well before the end of the lane. At the end put "yeild to bikes" signs, and mark a lower speed limit.

Long term - move the bike lane, extend it, and/or rebuild the intersection. All crossings of the 417 are danger points, and need careful design. The bike lane should be *inside* (left of) the lane that eventually becomes the on-ramp.

[Helmet Head]

I think it's interesting that almost 50% of the 65 respondents to this poll believe that bike lanes are either negligible in effect in terms of making motorists more ware of cyclists (29%), or actually cause motorists to be less aware of cyclists (18%).

More to the point, less than 10% believe that bike lanes cause motorists to be "much more likely to look for and notice cyclists."

[SingingSabre]

Such acute observations, HH. I'm sure Gallup will be calling you shortly.

Perhaps people feel that motorists will notice bikes regardless of lane placement and feel that bike lanes are simply a nice way to segregate slower moving vehicles from faster moving ones. Perhaps they feel otherwise. Either way, I think you over-analyze things more than my girlfriend does.

[Novakane]

Hard to say without seeing the intersection myself. The bike map is a rough approximation of the streets, no real help when it comes to actual lane placements.

If I can remember to, next time I take that route I'll try to bring my camera along and find a safe place to stop and take a snapshot. I think in general I'll try the usual solution and find an alternative route.

I think it's interesting that almost 50% of the 65 respondents to this poll believe that bike lanes are either negligible in effect in terms of making motorists more ware of cyclists (29%), or actually cause motorists to be less aware of cyclists (18%).

More to the point, less than 10% believe that bike lanes cause motorists to be "much more likely to look for and notice cyclists."

Perhaps we're all jaded?

[patc]

If I can remember to, next time I take that route I'll try to bring my camera along and find a safe place to stop and take a snapshot. I think in general I'll try the usual solution and find an alternative route.

If you can, but don't go out of your way on my account, I could always get my lazy but out there and see it for myself. I do feel you should call 311 and report is as a dangerous intersection, though, if enough people call it might get fixed.

Perhaps we're all jaded?

No, I think many people here have long since stopped falling for the "bike lanes are all about safety" red herring, and now realize the issue isn't primarily one of safety at all.