The reason to increase cyclists is because that is how cycling facilities will be improved. The more of us there are, the more vocal and influential we will become.

Key word, feel safer even if that felling is not fact.

Oh give me a break... you are giving the same weight to a dog or pedestrian if involved in a cycling collision as an SUV.

I would much rather run into a loose dog than a loose SUV any day of the week.

Sure, intersections may be more dangerous, but not the over all trail. Heck I could ride up and down a trail for days and days and not have the same potential for serious collisions as I would riding on the average city up and down a two block route.

Now I am speaking of an isolated trail here, not a sidepath.

The vast majority of path funding, since 1991 have come from federal transportation funding through ISTEA and TEA21. The state portion of the funding may be parks & rec funds, but that is generally only 20% of the full project cost.

Then some folks are preaching the wrong stuff...

Now I am speaking of an isolated trail here, not a sidepath.

However, the post you're responding to was speaking of a bike path with street crossings. You inadvertantly changed the subject. Do you think that paths with street crossings, especially mid-block ones, are safer than just riding in the streets?

(And for now, I guess we're ignoring the big impact of path maintenance on path safety. I was involved in a two-bike wipeout caused by a big pile of wet leaves on a bike path. No serious injuries that time, but....)

However, the post you're responding to was speaking of a bike path with street crossings. You inadvertantly changed the subject. Do you think that paths with street crossings, especially mid-block ones, are safer than just riding in the streets?

(And for now, I guess we're ignoring the big impact of path maintenance on path safety. I was involved in a two-bike wipeout caused by a big pile of wet leaves on a bike path. No serious injuries that time, but....)

No, a path with street crossings is different from a sidepath.

A sidepath has ALL the same street crossings as the street itself. (like a sidewalk)

A path that has street crossings but is isolated otherwise... is safer... you are only subject to meeting motortraffic at the intersections... there should be no way to "meet" auto traffic on the rest of the path. (yeah I know about the guy that hit the cyclist while he was illegally driving on the path... )

Your comment of your bike wipeout and "no serious injuries" is exactly what I am speaking about. Do you really feel that your "wipeout" had nearly the same "impact" as being hit by a car moving at 35MPH or even 20MPH?

Cities like Denver, Minneapolis, Seattle, have trail networks that provide a spine, a backbone of bike arterials for expedient cross-metropolis riding.

NO ONE, no bike infrastructure advocate expects trail networks to serve EVERY destination; no one expects interstates to serve every driving destination either.

Trail networks have the ability to provide a backbone for transportational cyclists across metropolitian areas. look at Denver, Seattle, Minneapolis for such examples.

NO ONE, no bike infrastructure advocate expects trail networks to serve EVERY destination; no one expects interstates to serve every driving destination either.

Trail networks have the ability to provide a backbone for transportational cyclists across metropolitian areas. look at Denver, Seattle, Minneapolis for such examples.


Good parallel.

Bike infrastructure trails acting like "interstates" for cyclists.

Good parallel.

Bike infrastructure trails acting like "interstates" for cyclists.



Yes, in theory. In reality, speeds on paths seem to be slower so the freeway analogy breaks down.

(I know that there are a few--very few--true bike freeways in existence. But they are definitely the exception.)

Cities like Denver, Minneapolis, Seattle, have trail networks that provide a spine, a backbone of bike arterials for expedient cross-metropolis riding.

NO ONE, no bike infrastructure advocate expects trail networks to serve EVERY destination; no one expects interstates to serve every driving destination either.

Trail networks have the ability to provide a backbone for transportational cyclists across metropolitian areas. look at Denver, Seattle, Minneapolis for such examples.
I'm glad you reiterated this point. I think well-designed segregated urban trails make a good addition to the infrastructure. They seem to promote cycling too. I just think that paths with busy street crossings lull novices and children into a false sense of security, and greatly slow speeds for all of us.

No, a path with street crossings is different from a sidepath.

A sidepath has ALL the same street crossings as the street itself. (like a sidewalk)


Huh? It was my impression (based on thread title and OP) that this thread is about bike paths and NOT about side paths. Some bike paths (the good ones) are totally segregated from motor traffic. Some bike paths (the bad ones, IMO) have street crossings.

Yes, in theory. In reality, speeds on paths seem to be slower so the freeway analogy breaks down.

(I know that there are a few--very few--true bike freeways in existence. But they are definitely the exception.)

Does the average speed go lower... I know on paths my average speed is higher, as I am not waiting at lights every intersection.

Huh? It was my impression (based on thread title and OP) that this thread is about bike paths and NOT about side paths. Some bike paths (the good ones) are totally segregated from motor traffic. Some bike paths (the bad ones, IMO) have street crossings.

But do they have all the street crossings? Most paths I use manage to skip a street crossing or two... usually by being below grade at those crossings.

A path that has every street crossing is really not much of a path.

bike paths here in Vancouver are NOT direct, they bumble around the side streets, have many lights and barriers to get around. takes me over 1.5 - 2 hours to get from my house (vancouver) to Surrey BC if i'm visiting the folks, and only 45 minutes if i ride on the busiest street (direct route)

the activists can have their perceived safe/fast bike routes, i'll take the major roads ANYDAY