Make bicycling the State Sport??? (Dover, Ocean View: construction, to live in, dangerous)

[longnecker]

Legislation has been introduced to make bicycling the State Sport. http://wgmd.com/common/more.php?m=49...&post_id=90201 I am sure this is coming from upstate politician who do not know how dangerous sharing the road with a bicyclist can be on our downstate curvy,narrow , back roads. I am not againt bicycling. I think it has it's place in the parks and on the trails. You would only have to come around a sharp curve on a two lane road and see a cyclist and an oncoming car once to understand what I mean.

[pete lynch]

Great. If they make it an official sport then maybe they will make some Official Rules and actually enforce them. For instance, all those big groups of cyclists stay in single file instead of riding three-wide on those curvy back roads longnecker speaks of.

[rdlr]

Going north on Rt. 13 towards Dover Downs, I became aware of a Painted Bike Lane. Who ????? In their right mind, would ride a bike between the three Rt. 13 lanes and the turning lane into Dover Downs? It's almost like the state has set up a suicide route for bikers. It's crazy!

I like bikes too, but there's a place for them, and it's NOT in busy traffic patterns.

[DelawareLiz]

^^Wow, rdlr....never noticed that before. I wouldn't want to ride my bike there!

As stated previously, my husband and I are avid bicyclists...we don't wear the little spandex outfits or have fancy bikes though. I will say that it's getting better in my area as far as being bicycle friendly. Ocean View has made bike lanes and sidewalks where there weren't any before, and Fred Hudson Road (we ride this once often to get to route one) now has a very nice bike/walking paved lane far enough away from all the traffic on that road. The Fenwick area now has many bike lanes after they did all that road construction (we ride out that way often to do our "loop"). Ocean View will as well after they complete the route 26 project. I have seen a major improvement in my area as far as it being safer for bikers. Many of the people who visit here during the summer are also avid bicyclists (people from DC and surrounding areas), and lucky for us many of them know how to be respectful towards bicyclists. Of course, there are still a few who are rude and have their heads stuck up somewhere the sun doesn't shine, but it's pretty obvious these people don't do much bicycling or any sort of exercise (trying to say that nicely).

I do wish there was more of a shoulder on my ride to Holts Landing and back, but that's more rural and I suppose no shoulder is to be expected. However, I see many other people riding their bikes out there so it doesn't seem to be stopping anyone. I will admit....it is very nice to live in an area where bicycling is considered popular because this makes drivers more accepting and aware. I know that I am always on the lookout for bicyclists and people on motorcycles....because I ride a bike and I used to ride a motorcycle.

[longnecker]

Originally Posted by rdlr

Going north on Rt. 13 towards Dover Downs, I became aware of a Painted Bike Lane. Who ????? In their right mind, would ride a bike between the three Rt. 13 lanes and the turning lane into Dover Downs? It's almost like the state has set up a suicide route for bikers. It's crazy!

I like bikes too, but there's a place for them, and it's NOT in busy traffic patterns.

Same situation on Rt 24 at Long neck Rd. Bike lane runs between traffic lanes and rt turn lane. I believe posted speed there is 40mph.