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League of Illinois Bicyclists and Chicago Bicycling Federation attack bike paths [rant warning]
These fine groups sent me informational notices today about
the danger posed by bike paths, specifically the "stop block" posts that aim to prevent motor vehicles from using the paths. Story and video: http://cbs2chicago.com/siteSearch/lo...164203645.html The article contains this bit of hyperbole from Nick Jackson of the CBF (who I've met, and who seems like a reasonable enough person): "This is down at ankle level; a bicyclist has no chance to see this," Jackson said. "This is going to be dangerous. They are going to hit that and they are going to fall." So cyclists have "no chance" and are "going to fall". On my commute route, there are at least 10 of these on the 4 miles I spend on the North Branch trail. I take this route about 50 times a year, since 1996. So, 10 * 2 * 50 * 10 = 10,000 times I've passed these without hitting one. That's not my definition of "No chance". I think our advocates do us a disservice by making cycling sound overly dangerous. The video contains a humorous / appalling scene of young cyclists riding past the dangerous stop block -- and blowing right by the stop sign and riding through the intersection without so much as slowing down. There's a good example! The LIB and the CBF probably do have a point about the stop blocks being an old, obsolete design, but (a) there's no mention of these group's roles in getting the paths built in the first place some years ago, something they are usually anxious to remind me of when my membership is up for renewal, and (b) at least some governmental units will find ways to replace these with something worse, like those awful things that force you to navigate an area just wider than mountain bike handlebars. |
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On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 22:06:52 -0500, "Mike Kruger"
wrote: These fine groups sent me informational notices today about the danger posed by bike paths, specifically the "stop block" posts that aim to prevent motor vehicles from using the paths. Story and video: http://cbs2chicago.com/siteSearch/lo...164203645.html The article contains this bit of hyperbole from Nick Jackson of the CBF (who I've met, and who seems like a reasonable enough person): "This is down at ankle level; a bicyclist has no chance to see this," Jackson said. "This is going to be dangerous. They are going to hit that and they are going to fall." So cyclists have "no chance" and are "going to fall". On my commute route, there are at least 10 of these on the 4 miles I spend on the North Branch trail. I take this route about 50 times a year, since 1996. So, 10 * 2 * 50 * 10 = 10,000 times I've passed these without hitting one. That's not my definition of "No chance". I think our advocates do us a disservice by making cycling sound overly dangerous. The video contains a humorous / appalling scene of young cyclists riding past the dangerous stop block -- and blowing right by the stop sign and riding through the intersection without so much as slowing down. There's a good example! The LIB and the CBF probably do have a point about the stop blocks being an old, obsolete design, but (a) there's no mention of these group's roles in getting the paths built in the first place some years ago, something they are usually anxious to remind me of when my membership is up for renewal, and (b) at least some governmental units will find ways to replace these with something worse, like those awful things that force you to navigate an area just wider than mountain bike handlebars. As someone who has ridden the North Branch Trail, The Illinois Prairie Path, The Great Western Trail, The Fox River Trail, The Virgil Gilman Trail, The Old Plank Road Trail, The I&M Canal Trail, The Wabonsie Creek Trail, etc., etc., for the past ten years or so; I kind of agree with the point being made. However, I've actually hit one of those "stop blocks", also known as center posts, or bollards. It was actually on the North Branch Trail. One of our club members hit a post on the Fox River Trail, breaking both wrists. While hitting one is not an everyday occurrence, it does happen! jeverett3ATearthlinkDOTnet http://home.earthlink.net/~jeverett3 |
#3
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The last time I was able to get my wife on a bike, July 4, 1991, she
hit one of those posts on the St. Marks Trail in Tallahassee and broke two ribs. It was a four by four concrete post with a rebar. She bent that sucker over. |
#4
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Mike Kruger wrote: These fine groups sent me informational notices today about the danger posed by bike paths, specifically the "stop block" posts that aim to prevent motor vehicles from using the paths. Story and video: http://cbs2chicago.com/siteSearch/lo...164203645.html The article contains this bit of hyperbole from Nick Jackson of the CBF (who I've met, and who seems like a reasonable enough person): "This is down at ankle level; a bicyclist has no chance to see this," Jackson said. "This is going to be dangerous. They are going to hit that and they are going to fall."... The LIB and the CBF probably do have a point about the stop blocks being an old, obsolete design, but (a) there's no mention of these group's roles in getting the paths built in the first place some years ago, something they are usually anxious to remind me of when my membership is up for renewal, and (b) at least some governmental units will find ways to replace these with something worse, like those awful things that force you to navigate an area just wider than mountain bike handlebars. The link you gave wouldn't come up for me. But bollards (or posts) can certainly be a bad idea. According to the design manuals I have here, if bollards are necessary to keep motorists out, they need to have adequate warning and visibility to keep cyclists from running into them. That visibility includes night visibility. They also need adequate spacing so cyclists can ride through them easily. As luck would have it, I'm presently fighting a very dangerous bollard installation on a bike lane in a local metropolitan park. I'm not well disposed toward bollards at the moment - if ever. - Frank Krygowski |
#5
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John Everett wrote:
On Mon, 11 Jul 2005 22:06:52 -0500, "Mike Kruger" wrote: These fine groups sent me informational notices today about the danger posed by bike paths, specifically the "stop block" posts that aim to prevent motor vehicles from using the paths. Story and video: http://cbs2chicago.com/siteSearch/lo...164203645.html The article contains this bit of hyperbole from Nick Jackson of the CBF (who I've met, and who seems like a reasonable enough person): "This is down at ankle level; a bicyclist has no chance to see this," Jackson said. "This is going to be dangerous. They are going to hit that and they are going to fall." So cyclists have "no chance" and are "going to fall". On my commute route, there are at least 10 of these on the 4 miles I spend on the North Branch trail. I take this route about 50 times a year, since 1996. So, 10 * 2 * 50 * 10 = 10,000 times I've passed these without hitting one. That's not my definition of "No chance". I think our advocates do us a disservice by making cycling sound overly dangerous. The video contains a humorous / appalling scene of young cyclists riding past the dangerous stop block -- and blowing right by the stop sign and riding through the intersection without so much as slowing down. There's a good example! The LIB and the CBF probably do have a point about the stop blocks being an old, obsolete design, but (a) there's no mention of these group's roles in getting the paths built in the first place some years ago, something they are usually anxious to remind me of when my membership is up for renewal, and (b) at least some governmental units will find ways to replace these with something worse, like those awful things that force you to navigate an area just wider than mountain bike handlebars. As someone who has ridden the North Branch Trail, The Illinois Prairie Path, The Great Western Trail, The Fox River Trail, The Virgil Gilman Trail, The Old Plank Road Trail, The I&M Canal Trail, The Wabonsie Creek Trail, etc., etc., for the past ten years or so; I kind of agree with the point being made. However, I've actually hit one of those "stop blocks", also known as center posts, or bollards. It was actually on the North Branch Trail. One of our club members hit a post on the Fox River Trail, breaking both wrists. While hitting one is not an everyday occurrence, it does happen! Here is a photo of the site of my bicycling accident last July, which I mentioned in a previous post in another thread: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrbatb/25790327/ Trail users are (well --- they were anyhow, the county finally removed this thing earlier this year) supposed to go around either end. Which I had done with no problems many times previously. Until one fine morning when I was distracted by the nice weather and/or a pretty girl going the other way and/or problems at work and/or whatever.....combined with leaving my sunglasses on after entering the shaded tree-covered area from the bright sunlight. Kabammmmmmm ---- bicycle stops, body in motion [mine] stays in motion ---- result: instant severely & totally dislocated elbow requiring ambulance ride to trauma center, 3 weeks in splint, and 6 weeks in physical therapy (could've been worse, I know). My 2 cents ----- I do not think Mr. Jackson and the other concerned groups were indulging in hyperbole at all by trying to prevent serious accidents (and not so serious accidents, I suppose ---- all of 'em are serious when it happens to ***you***). |
#6
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Justa Lurker wrote:
Here is a photo of the site of my bicycling accident last July, which I mentioned in a previous post in another thread: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrbatb/25790327/ Trail users are (well --- they were anyhow, the county finally removed this thing earlier this year) supposed to go around either end. Which I had done with no problems many times previously. Until one fine morning when I was distracted by the nice weather and/or a pretty girl going the other way and/or problems at work and/or whatever.....combined with leaving my sunglasses on after entering the shaded tree-covered area from the bright sunlight. Kabammmmmmm ---- bicycle stops, body in motion [mine] stays in motion ---- result: instant severely & totally dislocated elbow requiring ambulance ride to trauma center, 3 weeks in splint, and 6 weeks in physical therapy (could've been worse, I know). Around here, they use metal poles, these are usually painted brown, with yellow reflective stripes on them, to make them more visible. Usually they are made as a swinging gate so that maintenance vehicles can get in, but other vehicles can't. Usually there is a big sign on the gate portion that says something like no unauthorized motor vehicles. W |
#7
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The Wogster wrote:
Around here, they use metal poles, these are usually painted brown, with yellow reflective stripes on them, to make them more visible. Usually they are made as a swinging gate so that maintenance vehicles can get in, but other vehicles can't. Usually there is a big sign on the gate portion that says something like no unauthorized motor vehicles. Yes, that was my first reaction to suggest some sort of reflective attention-getting signage, etc. be added if they couldn't simply eliminate the wooden crossarm ---- which (like yours) could be lifted/swung out of the way to let service & emergency vehicles onto the multiuse trail. The park system responded that one of their concerns was aesthetics and appearance and not wanting to detract from the natural beauty. While I don't want billboards and convenience stores and neon signs all along the trail either, I felt that answer wasn't satisfactory. At least they finally did something about it. |
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