Mike Kruger wrote:

"Burn Gum! It Melts!" wrote in message
...

The reason I ask is that I'm damn sick and tired of the bike lane being
covered with broken glass every damn day. It looks as if whatever
jurisdiction that maintains the road simply sweeps all broken glass from
the main traffic lanes, the sidewalk, and elsewhere right onto the bike
lane. Either that or everyone who throws glass from their car windows on
the viaduct just happens to hit the bike lane with perfect precision.

More likely, any glass that's in the traffic lanes gets stirred up by the
cars/trucks, and a certain fraction lands in the bike lane; this makes the
bike lane worse, but cleans the traffic lane.

This is one of the main problems with bike lanes -- particularly along
routes where there are a number of people who throw trash. This covers
nearly all well-travelled routes in urban areas, not just those where Jerry
Springer used to be mayor.

That's why you sometimes see bike riders riding in the traffic lanes, NOT
the bike lane. The bike lane may simply contain too much glass, sand,
gravel, pieces of sharp metal, or other detrius. However, motor vehicle
drivers often don't understand why someone is purposely ignoring the bike
lane and riding in their lane, so friction results.

Too right. Happens all the time. It seems to be a function of vehicle mass vs
trash. The trash gets swept off to the side by motor vehicles, and bikes have
virtually zero mass due to size and design, so the trash stays in the bike
lane.

I say "ride where you are safe" and ignore bike lanes when they are not safe.
It gets complicated some days...
Bernie