Originally Posted by
Leisesturm
Be careful what you ask for. In Portland a 20 bike pile-up in a 'cattle-shute' type of bike lane wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility. And even if you didn't go down in the first wave of casualties you would still have to hump your 50lb. fully decked commuter rig over 18" of concrete and back. What is wrong with people? How many miles of barrier is reasonable? What cost for 1,000... 2,000... 6,000... miles of barrier? Automobile drivers would insist that cyclists pay for it themselves. How many committed road cyclists are there and would they suddenly vanish off the radar when called on to step up and pay their apportionment. Be careful what y'all's wish for.
That's my major concern is if we build up "cycling infrastructure" too much then it would be real easy to start a push to get bikes off the roads; so many motorists already don't think we belong on the roads. I don't have many problems with motorists here in Florida, but the most common comment I hear is,
"Get on the Sidewalk".
We don't have the most "aggressive" cycling advocacy groups here in Florida, at least here in Jax, but I'm ok with that and I'm just happy that they are building more bike lanes (not paths) and we have a good number of
"Share the Road" signs here, which I feel is all the support I need. And that's why I'll continue paying for the
"Share the Road" specialty licences plates and I will always ride on the roads and do so following all applicable laws.
There are places where cyclists are required to cycle on paths and I've seen this idea thrown around here in the states. That would be awful, it would be akin to forcing us cyclists off the roads.