Comments on: Why we’re facing a mandatory bike lane law

By: fred_dot_u

fred_dot_u — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:19:26 +0000

Pondering the MBL law as it is nearly here is my latest brain exercise while riding. What is to keep the municipalities from putting cycle symbols in these undesignated bike lanes already existing? If a municipality did so, are they violating any state laws?

Safe cyclists who elect to avoid the marked bike lanes will have a valid reason to do so, but now are forced either to argue with law enforcement or argue in court, neither of which is pleasant.

A reference was made above that painting symbols on the road does not make a bike lane and can be determined by the treatment at an intersection. Is this to say that when there is striping to the intersection, to the right of other traffic, that it invalidates the qualification as a bike lane? In my area, specifically most of US1, the striping goes to dots at the intersection, but does not go away, as a proper bike lane should. The striping goes to dots at many driveways as well.

What’s the word about having this senseless (but unfortunately enforceable) law repealed?

By: Keri

Keri — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:10:05 +0000

At the end of this post:
http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2008/11/30/what-cyclists-need-to-know-about-trucks/
is a story of how understanding the total environment rather than following the bike lane (a pocket lane between an RTOL and thru lane) saved my life.

By: Serge Issakov

Serge Issakov — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:48:40 +0000

Good point, Harold. The sad thing is that the claim is made that bike lanes are mostly needed by novice bicyclists, but it’s precisely the novice bicyclists who don’t have the experience to know not to blindly trust bike lane guidance.

While novices are likely to feel less comfortable on streets without bike lanes, that’s exactly what they need to pay proper attention to the traffic situation. The traffic situation which bike lanes encourage them to ignore is what should guide where bicyclists ride, not a static bike-specific stripe which cannot automatically adjust to traffic conditions like proper roadway positioning must.

By: Harold

Harold — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:58:41 +0000

Yes, yes, I agree. Having cycled for many years, and survived, many attempted, intentional, sideswipes, I have learned to ” avoid” areas for potential crashes. I have been perplexed many times at the placement of bike lanes. One such, is the bike lane BETWEEN the driving lane and a turn lane. This is a sure recipe for disaster. Sandwich comes to mind, not to mention the driver who realizes at the ” last minute” this is their turn, or those who think they always have the right of way, and wouldn’t think twice of cutting off a cyclist (or other driver) untill they are in handcuffs. Unfortunately, it would most likely be too late for the cyclist. Law or no law, I refuse- to ride- any where, it puts my life in danger…. Period.

By: Serge Issakov

Serge Issakov — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:03:21 +0000

I don’t know about the FBA, but the LAB favors bike lanes, mandatory or not.

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:23:21 +0000

FBA and LAB need to publish a policy statement to clarify their position on bicycle lanes, or we are going to see more and more of them, and we are going to be forced to use them…

By: Keri

Keri — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:05:45 +0000

The illusion that bike lanes “work” is evidence that they are a bandaid on a festering wound of bad land use, bad transportation policy, incivility, ignorance and the sense of entitlement that comes with handing out driver licenses to anyone with a pulse. Bike lanes don’t solve any of those problems. They are merely a tragic diversion from real solutions at the expense of cyclists.

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:46:02 +0000

“but there clearly (IMO) has been a lack of leadership across the board on this issue, which now has national implications.”

Not true. The LAB has been conning politicians and the public into spending zillions of dollars on white paint. As far as the LAB is concerned, one size does fit all, else the political subdivision isn’t “bicycle friendly.”

“In the balance of things, bike lanes do more good than harm for: (1) advertising to motorists that bikes belong;”

Belong where? “In the bike lane,” is what the white stripe says.

“and (2) to provide a sense (albeit false) of security to the novice cyclist to get from point A to point B.”

The novice riders don’t agree. I’ve been watching them around here. They still prefer a sidewalk if they can find one that doesn’t have all broken up uneven concrete.

By: Jeffrey Lynne

Jeffrey Lynne — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:04:49 +0000

We are facing a mandatory bike lane law because the “cycling leadership” of our state fails and/or refuses to work within and with the political construct that exists. Orlando is not Miami. Miami is not Jacksonville. What works in one part of the state does not necessarily translate to others. Bike lanes WORK in South Florida because of the overwhelming urban design and vehicular traffic numbers. Bike lanes may not work in other, more sub-rural parts of the state. There is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but there clearly (IMO) has been a lack of leadership across the board on this issue, which now has national implications. In the balance of things, bike lanes do more good than harm for: (1) advertising to motorists that bikes belong; and (2) to provide a sense (albeit false) of security to the novice cyclist to get from point A to point B. Notwithstanding this debate, there is an overwhelming lack of consensus on how to best proceed next, and with whom. I have seen the enemy, and it is us.

By: Keri

Keri — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:50:53 +0000

I use a similar metaphor:

The novice following cultural taboos to stay out of the way feels like a guppy in a shark tank. The Savvy Cyclist who has learned to operate with assertive confidence feels more like a dolphin in a whale pod.