Originally Posted by notfred
This system does not prohibit a cyclist from using the lanes whith cars when needed. If a cyclist needs to turn left, he can move out into the lane for example.
Yes, it does. At intersections, or at any time a car might be tempted to try a right-hook, cyclists should take the lane. The pictured bike lane discourages this basic safety maneuver. The bike lane also encourages cyclists to wait until the last minute to move into the lane to turn left. In heavy traffic, a cyclist should plan blocks in advance for a left turn (and if the road is lightly traveled, having a bike lane is just silly).
Originally Posted by notfred
This system does, however, make many cyclists more comfortable riding on the street. . . .
Bike lanes do make many cyclists
feel more comforatable, but they generally don't actually make the road safer. In fact, the comfort level can actually make cyclists less safe because cyclists let their guard down.
I used to be strongly pro-bike-lane. I became a skeptic when I noticed that pro-bike-lane people focused on making cyclists feel better about themselves. Bike lanes skeptics focused on efficiently and safely designing roads to get cyclists from Point A to Point B.
Originally Posted by notfred
. . . cyclists . . . don't have to worry about being hit from behind by a bigger, faster moving car.
Getting hit from behind is one of the least-frequent accidents cyclists face. So, at their best, downtown bike lanes mitigate one of the least-frequent hazards cyclists face. Bravo.
Originally Posted by notfred
This system is also good for motorists - they don't have to slow down behind cyclists very often and wait for appropriate places to pass.
This is why transportation engineers like bike lanes.