Get Ready To Start Seeing Raised Bike Lanes (And Killing Fewer Bikers)
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By
Bill
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San Francisco and Chicago are experimenting with a simple design innovation, common in Europe, that subtly separates cyclists from road traffic. A smarter and safer type of separated bike lane that’s common in cycle-friendly European cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen is now beginning to make its way to the United States.
Street planners already widely recognize that rather than simply painting a line on the road, physically separating bike lanes from car traffic provides a safer biking experience and increases the appeal of two-wheeled transportation. So far, in the U.S., this has taken the form of building protected bike lanes, which usually involves using bollards or barriers or building the lane between parked cars and the curb.
But these methods aren’t always ideal. Some people consider barriers ugly, and protecting lanes behind parked cars can make it harder for drivers who are turning right to see a cyclist. They can also confuse pedestrians and be harder to drain or clear snow from.
Raised bike lanes offer cyclists vertical separation from the road without these problems. They are usually elevated just a few inches above the street level to prevent cars from crossing over, but are below the sidewalk to demarcate the lane from regular pedestrian traffic. They offer a dedicated space for cyclists, but can be less expensive to build than other kinds of lanes when there’s new road construction anyway.
San Francisco will be getting its first raised bikeway next year. It will only be one-block long--part of a “showcase” project in the Mission neighborhood--but the city is planning to build more of them as part of other upcoming street improvements projects that will take place in the next few years. Chicago has also been building its first raised bikeway this summer. Smaller cities including several in Oregon have already implemented the infrastructure.
While we’re still hoping that one day our "raised" bike lanes are built far above street traffic, like this bright orange skyway planned for Copenhagen, at least the U.S. is starting to mimic some of Europe’s most sensible design innovations.
Now AAA members are eligible to have their bicycle transported by AAA in WA, OR, ID and BC BELLEVUE, Wash. (June 26, 2012) – On July 1, AAA Washington will begin providing its more than one million members in Washington and northern Idaho emergency bicycle service. AAA members now have membership benefits that cover them on their bicycle in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and Idaho. AAA Washington’s new bicycle service works exactly like its emergency road service for vehicles. A member with a disabled bicycle due to mechanical failure calls the AAA hotline (800-‐AAA-‐HELP) and AAA will dispatch service. The member and their bicycle will be transported to a safe location within the distance their membership level allows: Classic – 5 miles, Plus – 100 miles, or Premier – 200 miles. “We are excited to extend our legendary emergency road service to bicycles,” said John Milbrath, vice president of Member Services for AAA Washington. “People who live in the Northwest are avid
In July of 2006 a few of my friends joined me on an inaugural bike tour of West Virginia. I spent that winter planning a variety of routes through the Monongahela National Forest, and this would be our first of many weekend tours in the Mid-Atlantic Region. An early morning departure from the Pittsburgh area had us loading up the trailers high atop Spruce Knob . The starting point for this 60-mile mixed-touring loop was the Big Run/Allegheny trailhead off Route 112. Heading clockwise, we utilized forest roads, rail-trails, and paved roads. The reality of pulling our belongings behind us set in as we headed down the dusty and rolling forest road, quickly understanding why West Virginia is known as "The Mountain State." Soon we were treated to one of many mountain vistas. After rolling onto pavement (Route 28), we climbed over Allegheny Mountain and coasted into our campsite for the evening -- Island Campground , situated on the banks of the East Fork of the Greenbrier
have had some very fun excursions on rail trails , disused railways turned into pedestrian/bike paths. The trails typically go through very beautiful areas and rarely do you have to concern yourself with motorized traffic of any kind. Reader Will appears to be interested in rails as well, but he wants to ride on them - literally. Check it out - Will included the following text - A rail-bike is a bicycle that has been modified to be able to ride on the rails of a railroad. The front wheel has a device attached to it so that the bike won’t steer off the rail while an outrigger is used to support the bike using the other rail. I used conduit, cut up “razor” scooters parts, one bike fork two bits of steel and numerous nuts, bolts, washers and retaining pins. Nothing is welded. The hardest part is getting the spacing right so that friction and play are minimized. A lot of person hours certainly went in to this working model and the details are pretty amazing. [Keep re
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