tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207584811195702217.post6739109491070825010..comments2023-12-20T10:44:37.768-08:00Comments on The Incidental Cyclist: Doucet's segregated lanesKate (and Mike)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12314278577720373140noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207584811195702217.post-29094972084000888362010-05-03T20:17:33.316-07:002010-05-03T20:17:33.316-07:00It's getting late, but e-mail me and I can sen...It's getting late, but e-mail me and I can send you a copy of the presentation I made at the meeting (which is paraphrased into a single paragraph in the Sun article). <br /><br />The line "Another outspoken cycling advocate, Charles Akben-Marchand, said he disagrees that segregated bike lanes are the answer to cycling safety," could perhaps be clarified with the word "only" before the word "answer". The primary threat from segregated bike lanes is if it's the ONLY thing being done, and if it's done with the unstated (or sometimes stated) assumption that bikes don't belong on roads in the first place.<br /><br />I'm not as vehemently opposed to segregated bike lanes (which, in response to your question, refer to physically segregated ones, not just painted lanes) as their proponents like to paint me as.<br /><br />You going to be at the Ottawa Blogger's Breakfast on Saturday? Maybe we can discuss it there. (Details at the end of <a href="http://exurbanpedestrian.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/raising-kids-voices/" rel="nofollow">XUP's latest post</a>)Centretownerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03798054152996264061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7207584811195702217.post-84748345703376756992010-01-06T18:03:02.345-08:002010-01-06T18:03:02.345-08:00I'm undecided about separated bike lanes. We h...I'm undecided about separated bike lanes. We have quite a few here in Montreal, and, while they're often nice, you have you remember that it's only separated *between intersections*. Every block, you're out in traffic again, and the cars turning the corner probably haven't seen you, since you're way off in your own lane, often behind a row of parked cars. On my (20 minute) bike ride downtown, it's very rare that I don't get cut off at least once!<br /><br />Also, if the bike lane is blocked, you're stuck! If there is a real curb separating the bike lane from the street, you have to haul your bike up over it to go around obstacles - things like construction, emergency vehicles, idiots that thought it would make a nice parking place, debris... Again, it's very rare that I get through my brief commute without the lane being blocked somewhere.<br /><br />That said, it's a really nice idea, and lanes further away from traffic, like the Lachine Canal, are wonderful. I think the 'proper' solution for more urban paths would be to make some streets bike-only, but that'd face some stiff opposition, to say the least!Jon-ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00029707246850215748noreply@blogger.com