Great editorial regarding Memorial Day cycling tragedy
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I don't think making bikes adhere to the same rules of the road is the answer. If you ride long enough you'd realize that bikes are not cars. The rules of the road were made with the car in mind and it feels impracticable to cyclist to adhere to the letter of the law. Riding a bike is nothing like driving a car. The only real solution is to introduce bike lanes that are separated from the road in the same way we have sidewalks.
Those of us that have travelled abroad and cycle have enjoyed that kind of live while visiting other more advanced countries. Cycling is a way of life for a large part of northern Europe. I got so spoiled over there riding everywhere on nice paved trails. There were even plowed during winter months and used all year round. Sure is a contrast to our backwards ways, but it may change in 50 or so years when we catch up, if we ever do.
I don't think making bikes adhere to the same rules of the road is the answer. If you ride long enough you'd realize that bikes are not cars. The rules of the road were made with the car in mind and it feels impracticable to cyclist to adhere to the letter of the law. Riding a bike is nothing like driving a car. The only real solution is to introduce bike lanes that are separated from the road in the same way we have sidewalks.
And how much will that cost in terms of infrastructure? Don't get me wrong, I'm as much in favor of safe cycling facilities as anyone. But real transportational--not just recreational--cycling is only possible when people are able to cycle to the places that they want to go. I simply don't believe we have the money or are willing to devote the resources to develop large-scale segregated bike lanes that will easily enable people to ride all over the city.
Right now, the way we have for people to ride their bikes to places they want to go is on trails and on the existing road system--right along with cars. These aren't mutually exclusive goals, but I think we'd do better to work with what we've got and focus on bike safety on the roads we already have than to wish for a European-style bike utopia.
And how much will that cost in terms of infrastructure? Don't get me wrong, I'm as much in favor of safe cycling facilities as anyone. But real transportational--not just recreational--cycling is only possible when people are able to cycle to the places that they want to go. I simply don't believe we have the money or are willing to devote the resources to develop large-scale segregated bike lanes that will easily enable people to ride all over the city.
Right now, the way we have for people to ride their bikes to places they want to go is on trails and on the existing road system--right along with cars. These aren't mutually exclusive goals, but I think we'd do better to work with what we've got and focus on bike safety on the roads we already have than to wish for a European-style bike utopia.
It will never be safe. Like I said, I have been doing it for over 20 years in this city. Best to try and get the trails into the city from different points, so there is some safety. There is a trail from Millvale. Oakland to downtown via the "Jail Trail", or to South Side. South Side to Pittsburgh to Millvale is good. Downtown to Lawrenceville is getting sort of close. You can get to Lawrenceville without getting on main street and you can pretty much get there without dealing with a car or very few. The trail system is a HUGE improvement. Mayor Murphy was a pretty big help and it seems to be continuing. Friends of the Riverfront is an amazing organization that has done a lot.
There are always going to be bicycles in the city and I suspect you are going to see more and more every year. I cannot believe the difference in the amount of bicycles today compared to when I first started riding around here. It makes it so much safer and better to have that many cyclists because drivers start getting used to it. Pittsburgh has come a very long way. I really applaud their efforts to making cycling a real possibility for people that want to commute that way.
And how much will that cost in terms of infrastructure? Don't get me wrong, I'm as much in favor of safe cycling facilities as anyone. But real transportational--not just recreational--cycling is only possible when people are able to cycle to the places that they want to go. I simply don't believe we have the money or are willing to devote the resources to develop large-scale segregated bike lanes that will easily enable people to ride all over the city.
Right now, the way we have for people to ride their bikes to places they want to go is on trails and on the existing road system--right along with cars. These aren't mutually exclusive goals, but I think we'd do better to work with what we've got and focus on bike safety on the roads we already have than to wish for a European-style bike utopia.
From what I've heard, the Europeans sort of came to the conclusion that they couldn't achieve mutual ownership of the road and bike safety. We should do what we can now with bike safety but in my opinion, just as we consider walking along a road as too dangerous, we should work toward separating the car and the bike. The bike has a better chance in traffic than a pedestrian but it's still dangerous. Really, a bicycle on the sidewalk is less of a threat to pedestrians than a car to pedestrians at intersections. In Georgia, bicyclists are not allowed on the sidewalks but there is a provision to allow children 12 and under to do so. But really, law enforcement mostly looks the other way concerning bicycles on sidewalks.
I don't know the laws at present but certainly new projects could require a segregated bike lane as well as a sidewalk. It'll take a long time but if we don't start, it'll never happen. Pittsburgh however might be more a challenge as its streets can be very narrow and outside the city there can be little to no hard shoulder and sometimes with a big drop. Still, we might be better being a little less car centric and have more public transportation that can accommodate bicycles.
Maybe Pittsburgh should look to and even work with the Swiss for bike route solutions.
Really, a bicycle on the sidewalk is less of a threat to pedestrians than a car to pedestrians at intersections. In Georgia, bicyclists are not allowed on the sidewalks but there is a provision to allow children 12 and under to do so. But really, law enforcement mostly looks the other way concerning bicycles on sidewalks.
I feel more threatened on a sidewalk than on the street when I ride. Lets say I am riding in Lawrenceville on the sidewalk. People coming in and out of stores, people walking around, I am having to ride really slow and watch out for everything, then I get to an intersection and cars are not ready for a bicycle because they thought we were walking and they turn right in front of us like the do to pedestrians. Cycling on sidewalks isn't good. I do ride it across the Highland Park Bridge because there are very few people walking across it, but no way riding on a sidewalk in a town is better for anyone. I will take a narrow street over that.
Of course I have had people yell at me to "get on the f'n sidewalk". That is besides the point.
I feel more threatened on a sidewalk than on the street when I ride. Lets say I am riding in Lawrenceville on the sidewalk. People coming in and out of stores, people walking around, I am having to ride really slow and watch out for everything, then I get to an intersection and cars are not ready for a bicycle because they thought we were walking and they turn right in front of us like the do to pedestrians. Cycling on sidewalks isn't good. I do ride it across the Highland Park Bridge because there are very few people walking across it, but no way riding on a sidewalk in a town is better for anyone. I will take a narrow street over that.
Of course I have had people yell at me to "get on the f'n sidewalk". That is besides the point.
Sure, if you are in the city with high pedestrian traffic, it's not possible to ride the sidewalk. Plus the stop and go traffic makes it easier to keep up on the street. But if I move out of downtown, traffic speeds pick up and really the sidewalks are safer. It's probably the difference between Atlanta and Pittsburgh. Peachtree is our mainstreet that cuts through the city. Sidewalk traffic just outside of downtown is relatively light and a cyclist cannot keep up with traffic speeds.
Sure, if you are in the city with high pedestrian traffic, it's not possible to ride the sidewalk. Plus the stop and go traffic makes it easier to keep up on the street. But if I move out of downtown, traffic speeds pick up and really the sidewalks are safer. It's probably the difference between Atlanta and Pittsburgh. Peachtree is our mainstreet that cuts through the city. Sidewalk traffic just outside of downtown is relatively light and a cyclist cannot keep up with traffic speeds.
I can't think of any place I would rather be on a sidewalk except going across some bridges and maybe on Penn Ave., in front of Schenley or whatever that place is called now and down towards Trader Joes/Club One. I do ride the sidewalk in those areas.
Really? What about the very kind family members that didn't go after the kid and could have put the kid and family through living hell? You know they could have. No community service was a slap in the face to the family that lost someone due to some dumb kid's manslaughter mistake.
This has nothing to do with me. It has to do with the family that lost someone. If you read about it as much as I did, you would know they were shocked the kid didn't even get some community service, but I can tell you know nothing about the case. Most don't. It was just some cyclist that was riding to work because he was trying to train for the MS ride to Erie. You know that charity event that raises money for MS.
My point exactly.
I'd say the family members realize what I do about the incident: Community service or slap on the wrist is nothing compared to living with the knowledge that you killed someone. That you've created a situation where people will wake up every day missing the person who's life you took through one careless moment.
If you think that some other punishment is required, then you are obviously missing the point and are allowing your own grudges to influence your state of mind.
I don't think making bikes adhere to the same rules of the road is the answer. If you ride long enough you'd realize that bikes are not cars. The rules of the road were made with the car in mind and it feels impracticable to cyclist to adhere to the letter of the law. Riding a bike is nothing like driving a car. The only real solution is to introduce bike lanes that are separated from the road in the same way we have sidewalks.
I too would like to see more bike lanes, and I don't ride a bike simply because I realize exactly how dangerous it is for cyclists out there.
My responce to your suggestion that bikes and vehicles are not the same and should not be governed in a similar manner is that while you are correct in the differences of the two, they both need to share the same space and coexist for the safety of everyone involved. The daredevil cyclists (and I know at least a few) that shoot between stopped traffic and ignore things like stop signs or redlights are only putting themselves and others in danger. They deserve a ticket for this behavior just as if it were a vehicle doing the same thing.
I too would like to see more bike lanes, and I don't ride a bike simply because I realize exactly how dangerous it is for cyclists out there.
My responce to your suggestion that bikes and vehicles are not the same and should not be governed in a similar manner is that while you are correct in the differences of the two, they both need to share the same space and coexist for the safety of everyone involved. The daredevil cyclists (and I know at least a few) that shoot between stopped traffic and ignore things like stop signs or redlights are only putting themselves and others in danger. They deserve a ticket for this behavior just as if it were a vehicle doing the same thing.
I shake my head at cyclists that ride like idiots. I just think they give us a bad name, but I think many motorists see if you are being a good cyclist and most are okay with it. Of the thousands of cars that pass me, I have VERY few problems with anyone. It is rare. There are the testosterone types, but I don't count them much because they usually get by me and I avoid them as much as I can. You know the pickup people that have a small one and need to show they are powerful at something with their big pickup.
I do want to point out an instance that running through a red light after looking very closely making sure no one is coming is a much safer situation than waiting. Lets say you are in Lawrenceville at a red light with a pile of cars behind you. You are only going a block or two more and everyone is waiting at a red light and the road is clear ahead. I go through the red light make my turn off the road and am gone and no one has to pass or deal with me at all. It just makes common sense to do this and I am sure the drivers in the cars are happy I am gone.
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