-=(8)=-

I am moving to WPB area of Florida shortly and have been researching bike related
issues in that state and came upon this unfortunate bit of news this morning.
I guess in a area that has more Hummers than Hondas this mentality is to be
expected, however. Very sad.

I put it here in commuting because I believe it to be more important from an
actual riding standpoint than just fodder for the petty and ponderous arguments it
might recieve in another forum.

What I find particularly (un)funny is when Kopelousos infers cyclists arent part of
the 'public'

Of course I will write the usual letter that will get the usual trash can treatment but
it still only gets harder to understand such an egregiously cr0-mAgn0n attitude.


PALM BEACH POST

Bike-lane debate won't halt A1A work
By Chuck Mcginness

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Saturday, April 28, 2007

The state's top transportation official has refused to stop the repaving of
State Road A1A because of the debate over bike lanes along the oceanfront route.

In an order issued Thursday, Florida Department of Transportation Secretary
Stephanie Kopelousos said the public interest outweighs the "particular interest"
of the bicyclists.


Attorneys for Highland Beach cyclist Bruce Rosenzweig, the Boca Raton Bicycle Club
and the League of American Bicyclists argued that the state risked spending more
money and prolonging the paving if it has to go back later and put in bike lanes.

But Kopelousos said the amount of the contractors' claims to delay work that has
been started would probably exceed the cost of building the bike lanes, if a court
so ordered.

Attorney Jeffrey Lynne said Friday he never expected Kopelousos to approve the
stay.

"The intent behind filing the motion was to get FDOT on the record that they
will not kick and scream later when the court orders the department to go back
the fix the road," Lynne said.

Four repaving projects are under way between Palm Beach and Boca Raton.
A fifth project is scheduled to begin in September in Delray Beach. This is the
only section where 5-foot-wide bike lanes are planned.

The group of bicyclists is appealing an order that the DOT has the discretion
to add bike lanes, based on a number of factors including costs and local sentiment.
The cyclists claim the bike lanes are required on roads that are being refurbished.

wheel

Well what are the lanes like now?

I might just be inclined to take the lane even if there was a shoulder just to piss them off.

CommuterRun

Hit them with these three and anything else you can dig up. If they still refuse, then I would follow Wheel's suggestion and ride in the motor vehicle lane, and blame it on poor planning that BLs were not included in the construction.

https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/...20065#0335.065

https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/...20066#0335.066

https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/...20067#0335.067

Come to think of it, how wide are the outside lanes being paved? Are they less than 14 feet without a BL? If so, they are of substandard width by FDOT's standards and don't have to be shared.

CigTech

Hey Lem, Glad to see that your moving to Florida.

Most of the Florida roads have a good 2 foot or wider shoulder. But in some places, like under old over passes and the like, there is little to no shoulder.

When they where repaving one of the main roads that I ride on every morning. A leadman stoped me and ask if a lot of people bike this road. I told him yes. So he said that he widen the shoulder to accommodate the bicycles. So after they were done I ended up with a nice smooth, three foot wide shoulder.

Just goes to show you need to talk to people in charge of the actual repaving.

Lem, if you're ever in Pinellas County area will have to go for a bike ride.

-=(8)=-

^^^

Definately, CigTech !!
Hopefully you'll only have to pull over and wait no more than 2 times !!

dwainedibbly

Good luck in WPB. I lived in that area for 4 years in the mid-90s. I consider it pretty bike un-friendly.

CigTech

I always ride at others speeds when riding with others.

Dwainedibbly, is right about the cagers not being bike friendly. That includs my wife. She hates it when some one is on the road doing 15 mph on a 45 mph road. That's way I got so fast. When they see you doing 20 to 30mph they are in shock and can't beleave someone on a bike can go that fast. So they stay behide you or give you the respect they should to all bike rides but don't.

San Rensho 

Florida has to be one of the worst places to ride on the street that there is. Drivers are some of the rudest and most dangerous around. WPB might be a little better, I haven't ridden there, but Miami is the worst. Keep your eyes open.

Its really a shame because the weather is great and the riding is flat.

-=(8)=-

Are you still in Miami, San Rensho ??
I know it is going to be a H=U=G=E culture shock going from Vermont
to WPB but Im trying to make the best of it. I just have to last one year. Even though the traffic is deadly some of the 2-wheeled culture there is more fitting to me, than here.
This article is sort of the microcosm of the macrocosm....
How do you change mindsets so steeped in ignorance ??

San Rensho 

Yep-huge is the word for it. In WPB you won't have the culture shock quite as bad Miami, but it is going to be radical. The whole culture here is plastic fantastic flash. Newest, most expensive car, clothes, girlfriend with the biggest fake boobs, clubs you can get into. All show and no substance.

There are alternatives and they are prety good, depending what you are into, but you have to dig.

Welcome to Florida, at least theres no snow, well, no snow falling from the clouds, if you get my drift (pun intended).