Bikes make commuting worse (Atlanta: sales, 2015, sales tax)

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

I actually think a really good solution is this: Why not just allow bicyclists to ride on sidewalks?

Because it's dangerous and stupid.

[pollen]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

Instead of worrying about trying to add bike lanes to the to the road, why don't we just split sidewalks in half to a walking portion and a riding portion?

Most of Atlanta doesn't even have sidewalks. Where there are sidewalks, they're often very narrow and/or incomplete. How exactly would bike lanes on side walks work in Atlanta? Have one a section two feet wide for bikes, two feet wide for pedestrians, and then 40 feet wide for cars? How is that fair at all?

[arjay57]

I like the idea of denoting adjacent residential streets as bike routes and developing more multi use trails.

[ATLTJL]

I like the idea of dedicated bike lanes as well, but realistically speaking, it's probably going to take a very long time to get there and we need solutions now, even if they are only temporary.

Why do cars get more priority than bikes? I think that's simple arithmetic: because drivers outweigh bicyclists by a margin that is at least 100 to 1. It's probably more like 1,000 to 1.

Contrary to popular belief, bike lanes are not everywhere in any city. Here's a map of bike lanes in Manhattan: Manhattan Bike Map: Manhattan Bike Paths, Bike Lanes & Greenways - NYC Bike Maps | NYC Bike Maps

Sure, they exist, but it's not like they are on every street. If you have to go between the park and river on the upper East side, you're pretty much screwed. They may be doing better than us, but it's still not like you can get from anywhere to anywhere using dedicated bike lanes.

[Dkeating]

We should favor cars with our infrastructure because so many more people drive than bike.

So many more people drive than bike because we favor cars with our infrastructure.

Two completely different ways of looking at the same facts.


My experience is that bikes slow me and other drivers down a little, but not too much.

[Dkeating]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

Contrary to popular belief, bike lanes are not everywhere in any city . . .

Sure, they exist, but it's not like they are on every street . . . but it's still not like you can get from anywhere to anywhere using dedicated bike lanes.

With all due respect, I think you've effectively refuted a statement that absolutely no one has made.

[arleigh]

I believe that there should be paths specifically designed for bicycle traffic that actually can provide a significant advantage not having to share the road with cars and using other strategic avenues the cars cannot pass on.
To do this though would require a tax either the bicyclists would end up paying through some tax structure bond or equivalent, or the community would foot the bill since it would be free to all that ride .
This might also add a new problem for law enforcement and surveillance and security for the bike paths. opposing lanes an speeding laws just like regular traffic.
The width of the lanes may also be an issue if those that have trailers for their children and or groceries ,so limitations would have to be established, for the width of the vehicle.
There may also be required a level of age, skill ,training and other factors of maintenance and operability . Insurance may also come into play.
If the community pays for it the community has a right to it so long as they fallow the same laws as every one else using the said path.
Many more people would ride but are afraid of traffic ,and for good reason.
Personally I ride a motorcycle ,primarily because I have done it a great part of my life , I like it better then driving my trucks .
I have mountain bikes and off road, and they are fine, but people driving vehicles past some times are deliberately hazardous. Cyclists tend to be more respectful, simply because there is something more invested in peddling the bike .
Just as there are dash cams for cars, there are personal cams as well one can wear riding hands free ,if that level of security or entertainment is important to you.

[ATLTJL]

Go to any major city. There are bike lanes. But, I guess the New York's, Chicago's, London's, San Fransisco's, and Barcelona's of the world must all be wrong though, right? Frankly, it's a little (a lot) embarrassing that this is even a topic in the Atlanta forums.

This is the statement I was attempting to refute.

New York does have bike lanes, but it's not like they are everywhere.

[arleigh]

There are bike lanes here in Temecula as well ,there are some avid cyclists that use them often here. and they seem to be every where.

[Dkeating]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

This is the statement I was attempting to refute.

New York does have bike lanes, but it's not like they are everywhere.

The statement was, "There are bike lanes in these cities."

You refuted this non-stated statement: "There are bike lanes everywhere in these cities."