The Autobahn for Bikes
 

Munich's Got Its Eye on a Huge Highway System for Cyclists | WIRED

Wish this concept came to some cities in the US

I don't need or want a separate infrastructure. A wide clean shoulder on busier roads (that can double as a breakdown lane for cars) is more than enough for me. Less busy roads don't even need that. Roads already go to all destinations. In my experience bike trails just create situations with people riding, running, and walking in unpredictable ways.

Agreed, but in the final analysis, it is a lot better then cars/trucks/buses/ pedistrians acting in unpredictable ways.

I disagree. Even vehicles that act unpredictably are still acting predictably since I expect them to behave the way they do.

This is really nothing new. Here in NL the entire country is covered by a network of separate bike paths, 2-lane, divided with a stripe in the middle, and their own stoplights.

9 times out of 10, I would rather take my chances with an unpredictable runner moving 5-6mph than against a fairly predictable 4,000lbs car. Having an accident with a runner usually ends in a road rash. Getting hit by a car, at most any speed, can easily result in broken bones or worse.

"Cyclists will be able to ride at about 12 mph, Kastrop says, without the need to slow down then get back up to speed at intersections. There are no nearby cars to worry about, and with wider lanes, you don’t risk getting stuck riding single file behind some slowpoke."

Someone riding 12 mph is not slowpoke in Munich? ;)

Agreed, 12 mph on something they're calling an Autobahn for cyclists is amusing. However, I'm guessing they primarily mean that it's faster than the common path because you won't have to deal with road intersections which always slow down path users.

In any case, I certainly won't complain about a country trying to expand their cycling infrastructure and help more people experience cycling and enjoying it.

You're talking about people dressed for work riding on dutch style city bikes, most likely. Not kitted out carbon wunderbikes going mach 1.

Here we have a spectrum of MUP conditions, from unridable circus conditions to bicycle freeway conditions.

Most longer MUPS are great until you get within 1.5 miles of a major trailhead.

I believe in Germany the bike paths are just that, bike paths. Pedestrians stay off. There are some things to love about people obeying the law without question.

This is quite unlike the US, where even when bike paths are separated from pedestrian paths the pedestrians refuse to obey the law.

agree so much w/ the bolded... but I mean, a separate infrastructure in addition would be great too...

This isn't always true. Many bike paths are MUPs, or are distinctly marked sections of wide sidewalks. On both, you can expect clueless foreigners (like me) to idly wander around the path until scolded in English. Much like sidewalks or MUPs in the USA.

So for the Bike Autobahn (fahrradbahn?), pedestrian separation or accommodation is a significant design consideration.

well, to be honest, with the current issue of distracted driving with too many technology such as cell phone, i pad, gps, etc etc... I would rather ride my bike on a seperate lane designed only for bicycle and runners because at least on that lane, I will have a higher rate of survival in case of collision. While on a highway with cars and trucks with the low end of 1900 lbs all the way up to 100,000 lbs which would guarantee a hospital stay or worse a morgue if I ever was involved in a collision. With that incident in Oklahoma of a suv hitting a cyclist and killing the cyclist due to a driver's inattention by looking down at a cell phone. We need to raise awareness that there are cyclist out using highways with cars and trucks. Good on you Germany for taking initiative to build a stand alone path for those people who prefer cycling or running. It will be an excellent idea to do the same here in North America, that way they will be protected and still valued members of society.

W

Aha, there in lies the problem, how do you know if they are going to act predictably or unpredictably, either way, if your wrong you stand a good chance of being dead, with a pedestrian, not so much, that's why I say I would take my chances with them. :-)

Whatever. More road for me and less having to say 'on your left'.

On Friday, Munich Will Announce a Proposal to Build 'Bike Autobahns' in the City - CityLab

Munich Wants To Build An Autobahn For Bikes | Co.Exist | ideas + impact

more articles on this.

yes bike highways for between cities and for commuting make a lot of sense, and they're already prominent around cophenhagen and in holland. it would be awesome to have that here in the u.s.

esp. in NYC.

Why can't all cities have bike bridges like Copenhagen's new Cycle Snake? | Cities | The Guardian

Helsinki's ambitious plan to make car ownership pointless in 10 years | Cities | The Guardian

meanwhile, NYC can't even get protected bike lanes on major paths. it's sad how behind we are on innovation.