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Dangerous bike lane obstructions in Redwood City



 
 
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  #1  
Old February 1st 08, 02:15 AM posted to ba.bicycles,rec.bicycles.misc
Mike Jacoubowsky
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,972
Default Dangerous bike lane obstructions in Redwood City

McGarvey in Redwood City as a bike route that runs between Farm Hill Blvd
and Alameda. It's one of the few striped bike lanes in Redwood City, and,
while it allows car parking within it (on both sides of the road), it's
better than nothing and does give cars the idea that there might be bikes on
the road.

Local residents have been complaining about speeding auto traffic in the
area, so the city decided to implement perhaps the least-friendly, to
bicycles, form of "traffic calming" available.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ChainRea...rInRedwoodCity

Until recently (after some of us let the city know this was a dangerous
thing to do), there was no warning of these obstructions at all. Now they
have sawhorses in them, something I doubt they consider a permanent
solution.

Has anybody else had to deal with anything this hostile, placed directly
into a bike route? Any ideas how best to get it removed? I can't believe
there haven't been serious injuries due to this sort of thing.

Thanks-

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA


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  #2  
Old February 1st 08, 02:57 AM posted to ba.bicycles,rec.bicycles.misc
Mike Nelson[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1
Default Dangerous bike lane obstructions in Redwood City

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
McGarvey in Redwood City as a bike route that runs between Farm Hill Blvd
and Alameda. It's one of the few striped bike lanes in Redwood City, and,
while it allows car parking within it (on both sides of the road), it's
better than nothing and does give cars the idea that there might be bikes on
the road.


These street markings are not "bike lanes".
They are only fog lines that resemble the
inside line of a bike lane. Redwood City
does have marked bike lanes, but most of them
are sub-standard: too narrow and in the "door
zone" of parked cars.

One minor improvement was made to the repaved
section of Alameda de las Pulgas in Redwood City
between Jefferson Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue,
where the traffic lanes and the center left turn
lane were narrowed slightly to widen the bike lane.
However, the bike lane is still largely in the door
zone.

Has anybody else had to deal with anything this hostile, placed directly
into a bike route? Any ideas how best to get it removed? I can't believe
there haven't been serious injuries due to this sort of thing.


Yes, the San Mateo County Committee of the SVBC,
formerly known as the Peninsula Bicycle and
Pedestrian Coalition, has dealt with obstructions
in the road where bicyclists ride with limited
success. The county placed some posts on the
fog line of Alameda de las Pulgas at Camino a los
Cerros to prevent motorists from turning right at
high speed past the blind driveway of the corner
resident. After much negotiation, involving the
intercession of a County Supervisor, the posts
were removed and a raised curb was located to the
right of the usual path of bicyclists with a
forest of reflective signs within the curbed area
to warn cyclists to bear left.

We have not had any success getting Caltrans to
remove the posts on Skyline Boulevard (CA-35) at
Westmoor Avenue (not sure if this is the right
intersection) in Daly City.
  #3  
Old February 1st 08, 03:12 AM posted to ba.bicycles,rec.bicycles.misc
Rex Kerr
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 228
Default Dangerous bike lane obstructions in Redwood City

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
Has anybody else had to deal with anything this hostile, placed directly
into a bike route? Any ideas how best to get it removed? I can't believe
there haven't been serious injuries due to this sort of thing.


You could do what the director of the Chico Velo cycling club did
recently and crash and seriously injure yourself on a hazard the day
after pushing the county to remove it.

http://www.newsreview.com/chico/Content?oid=610676
http://www.chicovelo.org/ed.html

The irony in this case is really painful. I really hope that he
recovers quickly and is able to ride again!!



-------------------------------------------------------
From the Chico N&R Story
-------------------------------------------------------

It's particularly ironic because McLaughlin pushed to get
Butte County to remove such obstacles from the Midway path
to Durham, and had talked about the Bidwell Park bollards
just one day earlier.

Now something is being done about them.
-------------------------------------------------------

  #4  
Old February 1st 08, 03:31 AM posted to ba.bicycles,rec.bicycles.misc
Paul M. Hobson
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 26
Default Dangerous bike lane obstructions in Redwood City

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ChainRea...rInRedwoodCity


Has anybody else had to deal with anything this hostile, placed directly
into a bike route? Any ideas how best to get it removed? I can't believe
there haven't been serious injuries due to this sort of thing.

Thanks-


Several major Atlanta bike routes have fallen victim to so called
traffic calming in the past two years. Ours, unfortunately, are full-on
concrete creations in similar shape that turn a traffic lane into a
parking lane. They ain't goin' no whar.

\\paul
  #5  
Old February 1st 08, 04:37 AM posted to ba.bicycles,rec.bicycles.misc
Patrick Lamb
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 425
Default Dangerous bike lane obstructions in Redwood City

On Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:15:00 GMT, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
wrote:
McGarvey in Redwood City as a bike route that runs between Farm Hill Blvd
and Alameda. It's one of the few striped bike lanes in Redwood City, and,
while it allows car parking within it (on both sides of the road), it's
better than nothing and does give cars the idea that there might be bikes on
the road.

Local residents have been complaining about speeding auto traffic in the
area, so the city decided to implement perhaps the least-friendly, to
bicycles, form of "traffic calming" available.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ChainRea...rInRedwoodCity

Until recently (after some of us let the city know this was a dangerous
thing to do), there was no warning of these obstructions at all. Now they
have sawhorses in them, something I doubt they consider a permanent
solution.

Has anybody else had to deal with anything this hostile, placed directly
into a bike route? Any ideas how best to get it removed? I can't believe
there haven't been serious injuries due to this sort of thing.


I'd try something like writing a letter to the city attorney, copies
to the mayor and councilmen, warning that this creates a hazard, is
likely to cause injury, and creates liability to the city. You might
want to further state that this letter notices the city of the hazard,
and increases their liability accordingly. Mail the thing return
receipt requested, and keep a copy.

I hear there's lawyers in California? Fear of lawyers sometimes works
in your favor...



Pat

Email address works as is.
  #6  
Old February 1st 08, 04:42 AM posted to ba.bicycles,rec.bicycles.misc,rec.bicycles.soc
Tom Sherman[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 9,890
Default Dangerous bike lane obstructions in Redwood City

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
McGarvey in Redwood City as a bike route that runs between Farm Hill Blvd
and Alameda. It's one of the few striped bike lanes in Redwood City, and,
while it allows car parking within it (on both sides of the road), it's
better than nothing and does give cars the idea that there might be bikes on
the road.

I disagree. "Bicycle lanes" are separate but unequal facilities that
lead motorists to believe that bicycles do not belong on the roads.

What is needed are wider right lanes [1], mandatory proper driver
education, and severe penalties for motorist who believe that they have
superior rights to cyclists.

Local residents have been complaining about speeding auto traffic in the
area, so the city decided to implement perhaps the least-friendly, to
bicycles, form of "traffic calming" available.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ChainRea...rInRedwoodCity

Until recently (after some of us let the city know this was a dangerous
thing to do), there was no warning of these obstructions at all. Now they
have sawhorses in them, something I doubt they consider a permanent
solution.

Has anybody else had to deal with anything this hostile, placed directly
into a bike route? Any ideas how best to get it removed? I can't believe
there haven't been serious injuries due to this sort of thing.

For removal see:
http://www.erricksonequipment.com/images/LowResolutionPictures/CAT-D3-6-way-dozer,-Very-Go.jpg.

[1] Reverse for Japan and island members of the Commonwealth.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth
  #7  
Old February 1st 08, 05:11 AM posted to ba.bicycles,rec.bicycles.misc,rec.bicycles.soc
CJ
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 19
Default Dangerous bike lane obstructions in Redwood City


"Tom Sherman" wrote in message
...
I disagree. "Bicycle lanes" are separate but unequal facilities that
lead motorists to believe that bicycles do not belong on the roads.

What is needed are wider right lanes [1], mandatory proper driver
education, and severe penalties for motorist who believe that they have
superior rights to cyclists.

Motorists do, indeed, have superior rights on the road. Only when bicycles
and cyclists are licensed and licensing fees paid will cyclists rights
improve.

Cliff


  #8  
Old February 1st 08, 05:11 AM posted to ba.bicycles,rec.bicycles.misc,rec.bicycles.soc
Bill Z.
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,556
Default Dangerous bike lane obstructions in Redwood City

Tom Sherman writes:

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
McGarvey in Redwood City as a bike route that runs between Farm Hill
Blvd and Alameda. It's one of the few striped bike lanes in Redwood
City, and, while it allows car parking within it (on both sides of
the road), it's better than nothing and does give cars the idea that
there might be bikes on the road.

I disagree. "Bicycle lanes" are separate but unequal facilities that
lead motorists to believe that bicycles do not belong on the roads.


Bicycle lanes are not separate facilities - in California there is a
distinction between a bicycle lane and a bicycle path. Only the
latter is a separate facility. If a city puts in a bike lane, the
city has an obligation to maintain the lane, just as with any other
lane. If the lane width is substandard when the city installs a
bike lane, it might be liable if there is an accident, and the current
standards require enough width to safely pass any parked cars.

Also, in California, you can leave a bike lane to avoid hazards, when
riding at the normal speed of traffic, when preparing for a left turn,
and when approaching any place where a right turn is permitted. As
written, that would include driveways - you can legally ignore a
bike lane at any point where a driver could make a right turn across
your path. You can also ignore a bike lane if it violates the state
design standards in effect when the lane was installed.

Finally, drivers are required to merge into a bike lane before turning
across it, and can begin merging when within 200 feet of the turn.
It's hard to claim that a bike lane gives the impression that bicycles
do not belong on the road when drivers are required to use bike lanes
under specific circumstances (yet we don't say that right turning
drivers don't belong on the road).



--
My real name backwards: nemuaZ lliB
  #9  
Old February 1st 08, 06:02 AM posted to ba.bicycles,rec.bicycles.misc,rec.bicycles.soc
Tom Sherman[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 9,890
Default Dangerous bike lane obstructions in Redwood City

CJ who? wrote:
"Tom Sherman" wrote in message
...
I disagree. "Bicycle lanes" are separate but unequal facilities that
lead motorists to believe that bicycles do not belong on the roads.

What is needed are wider right lanes [1], mandatory proper driver
education, and severe penalties for motorist who believe that they have
superior rights to cyclists.

Motorists do, indeed, have superior rights on the road. Only when bicycles
and cyclists are licensed and licensing fees paid will cyclists rights
improve.

Wrong on both counts.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth
  #10  
Old February 1st 08, 06:03 AM posted to ba.bicycles,rec.bicycles.misc,rec.bicycles.soc
Tom Sherman[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 9,890
Default Dangerous bike lane obstructions in Redwood City

Bill Zaumen wrote:
Tom Sherman writes:

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
McGarvey in Redwood City as a bike route that runs between Farm Hill
Blvd and Alameda. It's one of the few striped bike lanes in Redwood
City, and, while it allows car parking within it (on both sides of
the road), it's better than nothing and does give cars the idea that
there might be bikes on the road.

I disagree. "Bicycle lanes" are separate but unequal facilities that
lead motorists to believe that bicycles do not belong on the roads.


Bicycle lanes are not separate facilities - in California there is a
distinction between a bicycle lane and a bicycle path. Only the
latter is a separate facility. If a city puts in a bike lane, the
city has an obligation to maintain the lane, just as with any other
lane. If the lane width is substandard when the city installs a
bike lane, it might be liable if there is an accident, and the current
standards require enough width to safely pass any parked cars.

Also, in California, you can leave a bike lane to avoid hazards, when
riding at the normal speed of traffic, when preparing for a left turn,
and when approaching any place where a right turn is permitted. As
written, that would include driveways - you can legally ignore a
bike lane at any point where a driver could make a right turn across
your path. You can also ignore a bike lane if it violates the state
design standards in effect when the lane was installed.

Finally, drivers are required to merge into a bike lane before turning
across it, and can begin merging when within 200 feet of the turn.
It's hard to claim that a bike lane gives the impression that bicycles
do not belong on the road when drivers are required to use bike lanes
under specific circumstances (yet we don't say that right turning
drivers don't belong on the road).

I could rebut this, but that would just be a repeat of the discussion we
had a few months ago. The interested can find that discussion with a
Google search.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth
 




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