This is a provocative film posted today on StreetsBlog.
I'm proud of the strides that San Francisco has made toward enhancing bicycling, thanks to the efforts of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. However, it seems that other cities, such as Chicago and New York City, have overtaken the Bay Area in terms of innovative bicycling encouragement. And we continue to lag behind notable bicycling friendly communities such as Portland, Oregon and Davis, California.
Keep it all in perspective, Paul. Biking in Columbus isn't officially discouraged, but it might as well be, given the lack of facilities such as those you have out there.
I'm not saying that you should say "well, it could be worse" when your city council or mayor (or whoever) makes bike-unfriendly choices, but just have a little perspective. An advance in one city can be upheld as an ideal for other cities.
I'm ambivalent about most of these measures, though making facilities that are safe to children to use is laudable.
I *really* like the idea of parking the cars to the left of the bike lane, though. Aren't there places marked that way in San Francisco? I'm picturing somewhere along the Embarcadero.... Except nobody seems to undertand the striping and they all park in the bike lane there.
One of the challenges for created separated bike lanes in San Francisco--on streets like Market and Valencia where they would be really helpful--is parking meters. Places without metered parking is less daunting and easier to do. Perhaps moving to a system that uses something other than meters.
In Europe they use electronic meters that print a parking pass. Only one meter for 20 or so cars. You pay the fee, get your receipt, and put it on the dash. I believe Boston is trying this system. It would eliminate the meter problem for laners to the right of the parking.
as long as it's still legal to bicycle in the street, where it's safer...
ReplyDeleteKeep it all in perspective, Paul. Biking in Columbus isn't officially discouraged, but it might as well be, given the lack of facilities such as those you have out there.
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying that you should say "well, it could be worse" when your city council or mayor (or whoever) makes bike-unfriendly choices, but just have a little perspective. An advance in one city can be upheld as an ideal for other cities.
I'm ambivalent about most of these measures, though making facilities that are safe to children to use is laudable.
ReplyDeleteI *really* like the idea of parking the cars to the left of the bike lane, though. Aren't there places marked that way in San Francisco? I'm picturing somewhere along the Embarcadero.... Except nobody seems to undertand the striping and they all park in the bike lane there.
One of the challenges for created separated bike lanes in San Francisco--on streets like Market and Valencia where they would be really helpful--is parking meters. Places without metered parking is less daunting and easier to do. Perhaps moving to a system that uses something other than meters.
ReplyDeleteIn Europe they use electronic meters that print a parking pass. Only one meter for 20 or so cars. You pay the fee, get your receipt, and put it on the dash. I believe Boston is trying this system. It would eliminate the meter problem for laners to the right of the parking.
ReplyDelete