I have a section on my commute that has a BL configuration as pictured, overall, most motorists can wait long enough behind me in order for me to clear the dash zone of the BL, but there have been some close calls with some motorists accelerating and making the turn in front of me. Those type of motorists remind me of a motorsport saying, "When in doubt, power out".

Even if they don't expect me to merge into the proper vehicular lane that is what I am going to do. It's as far as I can see the most logical and safest way to make a left hand turn in that situation.

When Santa Monica Blvd was redone a few years ago, (between the 405 and Century City), they put in nice well marked bike lanes similar to your photos. Even though the road is much safer because of the design, a cyclist still has to look out for drivers who turn or merge right without thinking about that bike lane... it's happened so many times to me. In very heavy stop and go traffic, the lane will be blocked by some car trying accessing the road , at a complete stop on the bike lane. These are things that a careful bike commuter can deal with and I'll take these problems over getting run down on no-bike-lane or inadequate-bike-lane streets. I wish Beverly Hills would take a hint from West Los Angeles and West Hollywood.

-3Bikes

totally agree, i plan on moving pretty soon and one of my main goals is to move somewhere thats more bike friendly. riding around here sucks.

For real. It's just stupid how the city just cuts off the bike lane and you get forced onto Wilshire or Santa Monica where drivers are crazy. You can take little Santa Monica/ Burton way, but it doesn't take you anywhere usefull




But it's better than these bike lanes
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environmen...ture=354515426

I have found that the success of lanes is more dependent on the local culture's interaction with bikes than particular lane style. In Madison (my current home) we have that lane setup, and cars respect bikes; in the two months I have been here, I have yet to get cut off by a car turning right.

lol no, its Huntsman Blvd.