Originally Posted by Paul L.
So for the record, you use bike lanes? Because the posts I have read from you have led me to believe otherwise. Now I do not consider myself to be a Helmet Head stalker so I can't say I have read every thread you have written and perhaps there are threads I haven't read where you have made this point. The impression I have gotten is that you prefer to ride to the left of the bike lane rather than in it. The impression I have received from your posts is that bike lanes should be obliterated. If I am mistaken, I apologize. Heck, even if I am not mistaken I apologize. Sometimes your approach gets my goat so to speak. Sometimes you do give the impression that you do not listen to anything anyone else says though, I think that is the part that bugs me.
Why is this so hard to understand?
Yes, I believe all bike lanes should be obliterated (on roads where slow moving vehicles are not prohibited) and yes I use bike lanes.
I also believe all pollution should be eliminated and yet I breath polluted air.
If the appropriate pavement for me to use at a given time (usually because I'm turning right or facilitating the passing of me by faster traffic) happens to be demarcated by a bike lane stripe, I'm going to use it, just like even though the air is polluted and I oppose pollution I'm still going to breath it.
Just because someone opposes bike lanes does not mean he opposes using them from time to time when the space they happen to occupy is safe and reasonable to be used.
Forester's rule of thumb works very well for me: (paraphrasing)
imagine that the stripe were not there... where would your ride? That's where you should ride regardless of the presence of the stripe. The only time this does not work is when the place I would ride if the stripe were not there happens to be right where the stripe is, and the stripe itself presents a hazard because it is wet and slippery.