Comments on: Connecting Roads Less Traveled… and Finding Shade

By: Rick

Rick — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:10:46 +0000

Tried your route today and meandered off of it quite a bit. I think I covered in the range of about 25 miles. It was nice since it was about 8:00 to 10:00 and being July the 3rd it was a somewhat modified holiday so I didn’t get the same volume of traffic as you might otherwise. I really enjoyed it. Thanks for the great ride.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:16:56 +0000

“Outside of peak hour”

Same can be said for I-4, it’s fine outside of peak hours.

Since I set my own working hours, I can make sure that I don’t go certain ways at certain hours, but people that work for wages and are told when to work don’t have those options.

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:18:21 +0000

Also want to add that peak hour creates more conflicts as the bus stops are generally spaced every two blocks and there are likely more boarding and offboardings. Outside of peak hour the buses likely won’t have as many stops and can/will gain ground as they pass empty stops. Timing your commute so that it avoids the routes as much as possible is one option, albeit not always the most desirable.

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:14:30 +0000

Keri said, “There are 6 different lines that use Denning between Webster and Morse, that creates a lot of opportunity for interaction.”

Yes, Denning and Webster is LYNX’s key transfer point for several routes between downtown and Winter Park and points north, east and west. There really is a method to the madness, but don’t ask me to explain it, I’m still figuring it out myself.

Leapfrogging is a difficult issue to grapple. I too like the suggestion to take the left wheel track. It’s one of those issues I think where buses and bikes need to figure out a happy medium and work together, it takes two people to tango, if you will. Who’s delay is less critical? If the bus waits for the cyclist, they experience a delay and vice versa. I say they’re about equal.

By: andrewp

andrewp — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:12:44 +0000

Feel yourself cooking is right … it’s why I welcome rain chances in the afternoon. Those rainclouds, when they block the sun, seem to drop air temps by 10 degrees or more. And as long as there is no lightning, the rain on the way home feels great …….

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:13:55 +0000

“You can feel yourself cooking as the air temp is in the 100s over all that asphalt.”

And my black helmet makes it worse. Next time it is silver or some other light color for me.

By: Keri

Keri — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:06:37 +0000

I’ll still aim for a sprinkler, but it doesn’t help as much here as in a dry climate.

The 6 acre arterial intersections are the worst. You can feel yourself cooking as the air temp is in the 100s over all that asphalt.

By: Steve A

Steve A — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:56:20 +0000

Too bad it’s so humid in Florida or you could add “people that turn their sprinklers on in the afternoon” as a secondary criterion after shade. It was bliss – 98 here today (thanks, Remington Park HOA). It gives the term “gutter rider” a whole new connotation.

The sun seems to beat down doubly hard on any cyclists riding those ugly strip streets, particularly when stopped at traffic lights.

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:29:37 +0000

Poor Kevin. He just doesn’t get it.

I use 17-92 on a regular basis without trouble, even in the places that don’t have the wide curb lane. Before I learned how to conduct myself in traffic I was afraid of doing that, but no longer.

I was just curious what route Keri used as an alternative.

Me? I use Merritt Parkway to Rollins, then over to the other side of the hospital and then Winter Park St. under I-4 to Formosa, then north to west Winter Park when I need to get to the other side of town.

For me, it is easier.

By: Mighk

Mighk — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:50:51 +0000

Kevin: Bicyclists DO have the option of the fast, direct route. US 17/92 has wide curb lanes and bike lanes most of the way. Since it doesn’t require any turns it’s quite easy to ride. The down side is the continuous center turn lane, which means motorists can turn left across your path most anywhere.

What Keri’s route offers is a quieter, shadier, more attractive alternative to an ugly strip commercial arterial.