General Cycling Discussion - City w/ most miles of bike lanes/paths?

Does anyone know what US city has the highest number of miles of bike lanes/paths? Maybe this is best answered per capita...

I am probably wrong :) but I think Boulder, Colorado may come close! :D

I don't have any numbers on this, but I know that Minneapolis has a good amount. I wouldn't be surprised if it was at least in the top ten.

I'll see what I can find on this.

I'm desperately trying to avoid my customary rant on differentiating useful on-road bike lanes from the useless and dangerous deathtraps referred to as off-road paths.

<invoking mantra> Every lane is a bike lane. Every lane is a bike lane. Every lane is a bike lane. Every lane is a bike lane...

Originally posted by Allister
Every lane is a bike lane.

On roads with posted speed limits of 25-30mph/40-50kph, I agree. On fast arterials, I want a wide curb lane, a good road shoulder, or a marked bike lane.

I have even been known to use a bike path to avoid a particularly dangerous road or interchange or because it actually went where I wanted to go, but I generally share Chris's preference for on-road lanes over separated paths.

we have about 150 miles of paved bike paths plus many more in bike lanes, etc here in Dayton, Ohio. Not bad for a medium-sezed midwest town.

Along these same lines...What constitutes a bike lane or route? I know cities and municipalities put up signs designating them as such, but that can be pretty much a joke sometimes...at least here in Los Angeles it is. I have been researching an editorial I am writing considering one city's (Charleston, SC) planning department's ordinance for decreasing the width of the streets in all new subdivisions. The Mayor was quoted as saying that making the streets more narrow was better for the environment because it decreased runoff during rain storms. I guess he doesn't think discouraging bicycle use (by legislating more narrow streets) is bad for the environment. Go figure. Anyway, what is the ideal width (within reason) for a lane of traffic that can accomodate cars and bicycles safely.

Actually, narrower streets are fine where speed limits are low. The asphalt on my street is less than 28 feet/8.5m wide, with no sidewalks, but with legally-sanctioned parking on both sides. With plenty of cyclists, dog-walkers, joggers, and parked cars, motorists do tend to drive pretty slowly, and the locals realize that roads are for people, not just people in cars. Irrespective of posted limits, motorists drive faster on wider roads. On a faster street, I agree that the outer lane needs to be 15 feet wide (or 10 feet plus a 5-foot dedicated bike lane), so that we do not have to take the lane, which can be harrowing in 50mph/80kph traffic.

Where in Los Angeles do you live, fked? I have lived in Cheviot Hills (where my grandfather had paid $400 for the lot, during the Depression) and in the Pico-Robertson district. Having a full street grid (something absent in most of San Diego County) allowed me to devise some pretty decent bike routes through the older suburbs of west L.A. and Santa Monica.

it's not houston.

Thanks retrogrouch.

Fifteen feet per lane sounds reasonable. I've seen some actual specs for lane width on a bicycle master plan somewhere, just can't remember what city it was. I'll keep digging and post it if I find anything.

I live in North Hollywood, but I work at Fox Studios on Pico Blvd. I used to work in Burbank (nice wide streets in most neighborhoods with reasonable traffic) so commuting by bike was really nice. But my problem now is getting "over the hill" from the Valley to the Westside. My best (but longest) route takes me through Griffith Park, up Los Feliz and eventually down to 3rd to get to the westside. This goes through some pretty scary neighborhoods (near Sunset and Western). As a result I'm not riding in anymore. I'm contemplating a folder that I can take on the Metro to at least get me over the hill. Haven't decided to take that plunge yet though.

$400 for property in Cheviot Hills!!!! Wow!!!

Ok. let's get real (heeere wego.)

Imagining a city map with bike paths and streets criss-crossing each other. (How many intersections is that?) :confused:

Let me access my Texas Instruments $120 calculator...lessee...
10,742,963. Exactly. :)

Separate but equal is not only a lie, it can NEVER WORK!

If we don't care enough for our own sakes, let's do it for our children...

:thumbup: