Advocacy & Safety - Pinellas Trail: Good/Bad?

http://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/roads/article739355.ece


There's alot of bad things wrong with this county, but the trail, and the subsequent bike lanes being supplied, it does make for a more decent ride in some parts---not all.....

Experienced cyclist?


"Heading west feels safer than heading east. Yes, riding the trail against the flow of the cars feels more secure because I could make eye contact with each driver at each intersection. That meant if they were going to run me down, it probably wouldn't be an accident."

:rolleyes: - snooze through physics class, did you?

-Kurt

I'm conflicted:thumb:

On the one hand I wish that the Pinellas Trail was never built. Instead every cent that went into it should have been spent on (1) public education about bicycles being viable/proper road users and (2) wide outside lanes on all roads with a 35 mph or greater speed limit. If money was left over, they could have painted those lines on the ground. I just want the extra asphalt.

I do however realize that I'm not who the creators of the trail are trying to reach. I don't believe in a diabolical plan to keep bicycles seen as a recreational toy by our local government. BUT, that seems like the effect it has in the absence of my two wishes stated above.

This new addition seems goofy to me. It's paralleling 1st avenue south (one way 3 lane road) which already has a huge sidewalk and a bike lane. With this addition, there will now be cyclists going against the flow of a one way street and cross every side street to the now FAR right of traffic. Atleast with the bike lane you are in the view of motorists and all bicycle traffic is moving with traffic. And this is in the downtown business district, which I find very comfortable to ride. I'll take that over the suburban highway every time.

It's like any other trail. It serves those who have convenient access to it, it happens to go where they want, and they don't mind going slow and trying to communicate/negotiate with headphone wearing users.

And, on the trail, you have to stop at intersections, just like you do in regular traffic.
If you follow the rules of vehicular (cyclist) traffic, then you won;t have a problem......You always have to watch out for the unexpected, so why is this any different?

People that have been used to riding on the street, and sidewalks will welcome this new edition, I'm sure.
Pinellas Park has begun to make 71st/Belcher cycle-friendly, by laying out cycle lanes...

This can be only a good thing, as people are becoming more aware of cyclists' advantage.

You also have to understand that most of the trail consists of property bought from CSX, (long ago) so it is NOT conducent to free-flowing cycle traffic, but, with the new editions, how can anyone disagree with it, especially considering the cut-backs that every municipality is dealing with? They did this, and are continuing to do this, despite all the cut-backs in the budget.